GAMBIER – After a year of serving as the interim coach of the Kenyon College tennis team, Andrew Carlson will officially become the head coach of the program beginning July 1.
Carlson was hired at Kenyon in the summer of 2018. He served as the senior assistant coach for both the Lords and Ladies for two seasons. When previous head coach Scott Thielke announced he was stepping away from the men’s program, Carlson was elevated to the interim position prior to the 2020–21 season.
“We are fortunate to have Coach Carlson assume the role of head men's tennis coach,” said Jill McCartney, Kenyon’s director of Athletics, Fitness and Recreation. “Through his time here, Andrew has proven his commitment to the student-athletes in the program, as well as to the department and the College. As a tennis professional, he is well respected, and he has been generous with his time and talents in serving the local community. Andrew has the dedication, knowledge and character to take our successful program and add to its legacy.”
“I am thrilled,” Carlson said. “It is an honor and I am excited to continue the tradition of excellence that this program has exemplified under the leadership of Scott Thielke. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here at Kenyon. It’s been extremely rewarding to work with the student-athletes and to watch them grow and succeed.”
As an assistant coach in his first two seasons on campus, Carlson helped direct the Lords to a combined 26-7 record and the Ladies to a combined 25-5 mark. Both teams captured North Coast Athletic Conference crowns in 2018–19 and advanced to play in the NCAA Division III Championship.
In the 2019–20 season, the Lords jumped out to a 7-3 start and the Ladies to a 6-1 start. Their seasons ended abruptly, however, as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down competition. The effects of the pandemic carried over into the 2020–21 season, but Carlson held together an ever-changing roster to post a 3-4 record in another shortened season.
“Although the past year was difficult, I am very excited about the future of the program.” Carlson added. “We have six first-year student-athletes joining the roster and I think they can make an immediate impact. I have no doubt that the team will be successful on the court and in the classroom, and I look forward to our program growing back into its place as one of the top teams in the country.”
