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Jeff Kader enters his third season as the head coach of the UTSA men's tennis program. Kader was named the third head coach in school history on July 6, 2010.
Kader guided the Roadrunners to a thrilling postseason run that saw UTSA knock off the top two seeds en route to the Southland Conference Tournament Championship last spring. The Roadrunners, who won 13 matches and entered the ITA national rankings for the first time in program history in 2012, saw their run come to an end in the first round of the NCAA Championships with a loss at No. 14 California. The team had a league-high eight players earn All-Southland honors, including Daniel Moser and David Kelleher, both of whom were first-team picks in singles play. UTSA also tied with a circuit-high four all-academic selections, including Moser, Pedro Zanotelli and Yannick Junger, all of whom landed on the conference's top squad.
After playing arguably the toughest schedule in school history in 2011, Kader led the Birds back to the Southland Tournament Championship Match for the ninth time in the last 11 years. UTSA posted 11 wins on a ledger that featured nine matches against nationally-ranked opponents. The squad had a league-high seven players earn All-Southland honors, including Moser and Tyler Brown, both of whom were first-team selections. UTSA also garnered two all-academic awards (Brown/Martin Ayala) and Brown was named the Southland Student-Athlete of the Year.
The Geneva, Ohio, native came to the Alamo City from North Carolina State, where he was an assistant coach for four seasons. He helped guide the Wolfpack to 60 wins and a No. 55-or-better ITA ranking, including a top-20 showing in 2007, during his tenure in Raleigh.
Kader played an important role in the Wolfpack's successful 2007 campaign when they recorded 23 wins, including 13 against nationally-ranked opponents, a final ranking of No. 19 in the ITA Poll and the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships.
Kader helped his players achieve national recognition while at N.C. State.
He coached former All-American Jay Weinacker to a year-end individual ranking of No. 33 in 2009 and also helped the tandem of William Noblitt and Nick Cavady to a career-high national standing of sixth in 2008.
Prior to his stint in Raleigh, Kader spent one year working for the legendary Stan Smith at the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy in Hilton Head Island, S.C. He served as a teaching professional and traveling coach with elite junior players.
Kader enjoyed a successful collegiate career as a four-year letterwinner from 2002-05 at William & Mary.
He was a three-time first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honoree in singles play from 2003-05 and also collected second-team All-CAA accolades in doubles action as a senior. Kader played an important role in helping the Tribe capture the 2005 CAA Tournament Championship and was named event's Most Valuable Player. He participated at the NCAA Tournament his final two campaigns and wrapped up his final year ranked 26th in the ITA singles poll. Kader also was the recipient of the 2005 Blue/Gray National Sportsmanship Award.
Kader graduated from William & Mary in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology. He and his wife, Morgan, welcomed their first son, Harrison Alexander, in June 2011.
The Kader File
· Hometown: Geneva, Ohio
· Alma mater: William & Mary, 2005
Coaching Highlights
· Led UTSA to its third-ever NCAA Championships appearance after winning the 2012 Southland Conference Tournament
· Guided the Roadrunners to their first-ever ITA national ranking during the 2012 campaign
· 2011 Southland Student-Athlete of the Year Tyler Brown
· 15 All-Southland selections, including eight first teamers
· Six Southland All-Academic honorees
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