The Northwestern College athletic department and Athletic Director Barry Brandt have announced that the college will add a women’s tennis program beginning in the spring of 2009.

Northwestern, which offered both women’s and men’s tennis programs for several years, dropped the programs due to the lack of quality facilities after the 2003 season. Renovations to the on-campus tennis courts last summer, however, made it possible to offer intercollegiate tennis once again. With the addition of women’s tennis, the Northwestern College athletic department will offer 18 intercollegiate sports, nine for women and nine for men.

“We are excited to be able to offer a women’s tennis program,” commented Brandt. “There has been interest expressed by current students as well as potential recruits and we are now able to offer facilities and coaching that will enable us to develop a program of the caliber we display in all our other athletic teams.”

Brandt also announced that Jeff Guthmiller will be the head coach of the women’s tennis program. Guthmiller, who also serves as the associate director of admissions, headed the program for three seasons (2000-2002) and led the Red Raiders to a pair of regional tournament berths. Guthmiller also served as the men’s coach for one season (1991) and was the assistant football and basketball coach for MOC-Floyd Valley High School in the early 1990s.

“I am excited that Northwestern has decided to bring back the women’s tennis program,” commented Guthmiller. “I look forward to the opportunity to coach again and build the program. The GPAC has some good tennis and our goal will be to compete at the top end of that.”