The Schreiner University athletics department has hired Garry Nadebaum to be the new head coach for the school’s women’s tennis team. Nadebaum took the Our Lady of the Hill High School boy’s team to a state title in the 2A division for the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools for Accredited Public Schools (TAPPS). He is director of tennis and swimming for River Hill Country Club.

Nadebaum graduated from Oral Roberts University, where he was an outstanding tennis player. He was ranked nationally as high as 14 in doubles and 34 in singles for a team that ranked in the top 15.

In his playing career, Nadebaum was the Oklahoma Adult Player of the Year in 2001 and 2003. He climbed as high as 25 in the International Tennis Federation world rankings and 2 in the national 35s singles rankings. He has notched more than 100 first-place and 100-second place finishes in tournament action.

Nadebaum inherits a Schreiner program that finished 2-5 in the ASC West race and 2-9 overall last season. The Mountaineers will return their top four players from last year’s team, including rising junior Katrina Priess (Fredericksburg) and rising sophomore Michelle Martinez (Harlingen), who formed one of the best doubles pairings in the ASC in 2008. Senior Stephanie Reed (West Columbia, TX) and sophomore Alicia Wilbanks (Trenton, TX) also were strong.

“We feel very fortunate that Coach Nadebaum has agreed to lead our women’s tennis program,” Ron Macosko, Schreiner director of athletics said. “Garry is known as a passionate and highly skilled tennis teacher and mentor. It was a very difficult (search) process because we are blessed with outstanding tennis professionals in our area, but we know that Garry will be a tremendous asset and will help our players maximize their potential both on the court and in the classroom.”