Edgewood College names Schaefer new interim women's tennis coach

Courtesy of Edgewood College, Sports Information Department

MADISON, Wis. -- With the Edgewood College women's tennis team on their way to their first NCAA Tournament in school history, the Eagles needed to find a leader who has been on the national stage before. Edgewood College proudly announced today that Stu Schaefer will step in as interim head coach and guide the Eagles through the spring season. This appointment marks Schaefer's third stint as the head coach of the women's tennis program.

Schaefer previously guided the Eagles to three Lake Michigan Conference championships (1992, 1994, 1995) in four seasons from 1992 to 1995. The 1994 squad became the first Eagle women's tennis team to reach a national tournament when they qualified for the NAIA National Championships. In his first four year stint, Schaefer accumulated a 28-18 dual match record and earned three Lake Michigan Conference coach of the year awards.

After Edgewood College was forced to cancel the 1999 season due to low participation, they called on Schaefer to revive the program once again. One year after cancelling the season, Schaefer guided the Eagles to a respectable 4-3 record in 2000 and earned another LMC coach of the year award. The Eagles followed that season with a perfect 5-0 conference record in 2001 and claimed another LMC title. In all, Schaefer won four conference titles in six years as head coach.

Schaefer met with his team today and is certainly excited to get started again. "I have three goals for the spring season," Schaefer said. "With two dual matches a day, we need to be physically fit, we want to improve our technique and we want to develop a strong mental game."

Schaefer serves as a lecturer teaching tennis classes in the Physical Education and Activities department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a position he has held since 1992. He owns certification as a tennis instructor from the Professional Tennis Registry and has coached for the Greater Madison Tennis Association.

Edgewood College qualified for the 2009 NCAA Women's Tennis Championships by claiming the Northern Athletics Conference title last October. The Eagles will be assigned to one of eight regional sites and will open their first NCAA Tournament match on May 8.

Edgewood College has also named Lindsay Garbacz as the tennis team's assistant coach. Garbacz is currently employed by Edgewood College's Human Resources department as the Recruitment and Training Specialist. A native of Wausau, Garbacz played four years on the varsity team at Wausau West High School and has been playing for 13 years. She has worked summers as a tennis instructor for both youth and adult players.

Schaefer replaces Rob Barber who stepped down after two seasons to pursue other career opportunities. Barber had a 24-11 overall record with a 19-1 Northern Athletics Conference dual match record. He guided the Eagles to a 2008 Northern Athletics Conference title and won the NAC coach of the year honor. Schaefer will hold the interim title through the end of the spring season, at which time Edgewood College will conduct a national search for a permanent replacement.