MARION, Ind. - Indiana Wesleyan men's and women's tennis will have a new coach next season, as Head Coach
Eddy Shigley has announced he is stepping down. Coach Shigley has led the women's team since 2014 and the men's team since 2017, seeing incredible success with multiple NAIA National Championship appearances. He tallied 11 Crossroads League Coach of the Year awards during his time and coached 31 NAIA All-Americans and 29 ITA All-Americans. Shigley was named the ITA National Coach of the Year in 2021.
"What our tennis teams have achieved is absolutely incredible! Eddy led teams to success at every level on the court, but more importantly he has impacted lives off the court in a manner that will last forever" said Athletic Director
Deane Webb. "We are all thankful for his many years of service, and moving forward we are thankful for the opportunity he will have to spend more time with his family and the Kern program here at IWU."
Since 2014, the women's program has lost one match in conference play and boasts an incredible 66-1 record under Shigley. Overall the women have posted a 257-50 record, with the most wins in a season coming this past season with 39. IWU women's tennis has claimed every Crossroads League Tournament title and had National tournament appearances in all of Shigley's eight years. During the 2020-21 season, the Wildcats made their deepest run in the national tournament reaching the NAIA semifinals and earning the highest NAIA ranking of No. 3 in program history. In the eight seasons, IWU collected 86 NAIA Top-25 wins.
Shigley took over the men's program in 2017 and hasn't lost a match in League play since the takeover. IWU finished first in the league the past five years and made program history this past season with an appearance in the NAIA National Championships Fab Four. His men were ranked as high as No. 2 in the country during his time and recorded 53 Top-25 wins in five years.
The most wins for any college tennis team in a given season was the 1980 Indiana University Women's Tennis team with 39 wins. The 2021-22 IWU Men's team won 41 matches to beat the record, and the women's team won 39 matches this year to tie the record.
"It has been an absolute joy and privilege to coach the IWU Women's Tennis Team the past 8 years and the IWU Men's Tennis Team the past 5 years," said Shigley. "I can't imagine coaching anywhere else. My desire as a coach has always been to mentor tennis players in their sport and in their relationship with Jesus! I have had the opportunity to work with some of the best young adults in the world. With the Lord's help, we have seen both programs go places nobody thought possible. I love all of our past and current players; they are incredible men and women of God. My coaching staff is the absolute best in the nation. They are not only great at what they do, but they also love Jesus and our players so well. I love the mentoring culture in IWU Athletics. Being a coach is not possible without an amazing spouse and family who support the journey. My wife, Esther has been a true champion and my kids have been incredibly supportive. I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and reinvesting time into the Kingdom of God in a different way. Last, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the opportunity to coach at IWU, and for sustaining me through the incredible victories and the disappointments that all coaches feel from time to time."
