Kendell Hale
Kendell Hale is in his sixth season as the head coach of the UMKC men's and women's tennis program. Overall, the 2012-13 season will be Hale's 19th as a collegiate head coach, where he has compiled a 340-242 overall combined men's and women's record. On the women's side, he has a record of 42-63 at UMKC, while boasting a 63-46 mark with the men.
Hale has orchestrated an amazing turnaround with the men's and women's tennis programs since joining the department in 2008. He has guided both the men's and women's squads to numerous school-record win totals and has produced three Summit League regular season titles, three Summit League Tournament crowns and three NCAA Tournament appearances. He was also selected at the 2010 USTPA National Coach of the Year for his turnaround effort, as well as 2009 USPTA Missouri Valley College Coach of the Year, and the 2011 Summit League Men's Coach of the Year.
In five seasons at the helm, Hale has coached 19 all-league honorees on the men's side and nine all-league selections on the women's side. He's also coached three Summit League Players of the Year and three Summit League Newcomers of the Year.
MEN
In 2012, the squad overcame numerous injuries early in the season and captured a share of its third consecutive regular season Summit League title, while hosting the conference tournament and storming through the bracket without dropping a point in wins over South Dakota State and IUPUI to claim the league tournament crown and advance to the NCAA Tournament. UMKC had four all-conference selections, as well as the Player (Grant Fleming) and Newcomer (Tomas Patino) of the Year in the league.
In 2011, he led the men to the Summit League regular season and tournament titles (went 16-7, 6-0), while helping the women to a school record win total (12) and an appearance in the championship match of the league tournament for the first time in school history. Nino Hasandedic was named the men's Summit League Newcomer and Player of the Year as well, and was named League Coach of the Year for his efforts.
During the 2010 season, Hale led the men's team to a 17-7 overall record, which included a school record 11-match winning streak. The 17 victories were the most in a single season in the record books. The squad finished a perfect 6-0 in league play during the regular season without dropping a single team point, as it claimed The Summit League regular season title. The 'Roos advanced to the league tournament final for the second straight year before being upset by third-seeded Oral Roberts.
Hale's student-athletes produced unprecedented success on the court, as senior Patrick Smith was named The Summit League Player of the Year. Smith along with Bret Berryman, Serge Ristivojevic and Gustavo Guerin also received all-Summit League honors. Ristivojevic broke the school record for single season singles victories (18), while Smith and Berryman set the single season doubles mark (18).
In 2009, Hale guided the men's squad to a 14-7 overall record and a 5-1 mark in Summit League play. After finishing as the regular season runner-up, Hale led UMKC to a Summit League Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth with a tight 4-2 victory over top-seeded Oral Roberts. The tournament final win gave the 'Roos their 14th victory of the season, which tied the then school record for single season victories. A trio of players earned all-league honors, while Bret Berryman was tabbed The Summit League Newcomer of the Year.
Under Hale's guidance, Patrick Smith closed out the 2009 season with six straight victories to give him a total of 14 singles wins on the year. The 14 victories were tied for the second most wins in the single season record books. Hale also led the 'Roos to unprecedented success at the Wilson/ITA Central Region Championships, as he coached players to the Round of 16 for the first time in school history.
WOMEN
Hale has made great strides with the women's program in five seasons.
2012 saw the 'Roos again break the school record for wins with 13, and they secured their first winning record since 1991-92 at 13-12. Laura Bouet and freshman Maddie Schulte both earned all-league honors, while the team boasted the top four individual career match winners in school history.
In 2011 the team set another school record with 12 wins, and advanced to its first ever Summit League Tournament Championship match. Laura Bouet was honored with all-conference accolades.
In 2010, Hale guided the 'Roos to a school record 10 victories and a 6-2 mark in Summit League play. UMKC finished third in the regular season standings to qualify for the league tournament for the first time since only the top four teams advanced. A trio of student-athletes - Laura Bouet, Eva Dalvai and Jillian Yakominich - each earned all-Summit League honors.
In 2009, UMKC posted five wins and finished with a 4-4 mark in Summit League play. The five victories were the most for the program since the 1999-00 season, while the four league victories were the most in a single season in school history. In Hale's first season in 2008, he led the 'Roos to three victories, one of which was a 7-0 triumph over Centenary that snapped the program's 58-match losing streak.
CAREER
The Kangaroos also have excelled in the classroom under Hale's watch. The men's team earned ITA all-Academic Team honors in 2008 and 2012 and the women's squad received the distinction in 2008, 2009 and 2012. Additionally, 11 student-athletes have been selected as ITA Scholar Athletes, 39 have been named to The Summit League Winter/Spring Academic all-League team and 23 were Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence honorees.
Prior to becoming a Kangaroo, Hale spent 13 seasons as the head coach at Rockhurst University, where he guided the Hawks to nine NCAA Tournament appearances in 10 years as an NCAA Division II university. He led Rockhurst to the Midwest Region Championships from 1995-97, and he coached six top-30 Division II student-athletes. His team finished the 1997 season as the 12th ranked team in the nation in the NAIA, which led to him being named the NAIA Midwest Region Coach of the Year.
Hale has been honored at every level since joining the coaching profession. He is the only coach to be named the USPTA College Coach of the Year five times (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009), and he has been selected as the Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year on three occasions (2001, 2002, 2007). In 2003, Hale was also selected as the NCAA Central Region Coach of the Year.
Hale also was selected as the USPTA Coach of the Year in 2001, the USPTA Missouri Club Professional of the Year in 1998, and he was the USA Tennis Coordinator for Kansas City in 1997.
Not only did Hale have success on the court, but he also was successful in the classroom as well, as his teams at Rockhurst captured eight Team Academic all-America awards.
In addition to his duties with the Hawks, Hale has served as the tennis director at Oakwood Country Club since 2004. From 1997-99, he was the head tennis professional at the Plaza Tennis Center, where the venue was named the Facility of the Year in 1998. Before going to the PTC, Hale served as the head assistant tennis professional/junior coordinator at Kansas City Country Club from 1991-95.
Hale has also been a United States Professional Tennis Association board member for 10 years, and he is the USPTA tester for the Kansas City region.
Hale's playing career began at Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas, where he was ranked 43rd in the NJCAA national rankings. After a successful two-year stint, Hale played two seasons at Northwest Missouri State, where he helped the Bearcats to a No. 12 ranking in the NCAA Division II poll. He was the only NWMSU player to win a MIAA conference title in 1990 and during that same year, he was the conference doubles runner-up.
Hale earned his bachelor of science degree in psychology/sociology from Northwest Missouri State in 1990. He then earned his masters of religious education from the Midwestern Seminary in 1997.
