Following a nationwide search, Sam Brickley has been charged with leading the Ripon College men’s and women’s tennis programs as announced by Director of Athletics Chris Schumacher on Thursday, July 20, 2023. He begins his second season at Ripon in 2024-25.
“Sam had an injury early in his career but he kept his focus on the team as he became a student-coach and eventually an assistant coach,” Schumacher said. “He was also voted team captain at Loras, which speaks well to what his former teammates felt about his leadership.
“During the interview process, Sam impressed me with his vision for the Ripon tennis program and his ability to connect with our student-athletes. We are very excited for Sam to join our staff and kick off a bright future as a head tennis coach.”
In his first season, both the Ripon men and women went 3-17 in dual play, though the Red Hawks had success at the Midwest Conference Individual Tennis Tournaments. Kelly Kline and Emma Ziebell won a doubles consolation title in the fall, while the men won five consolation titles in the spring: Caleb Sippel, Ty Rondestvedt and Jaden Francis were singles consolation winners, while Sippel teamed up with Austin Stevens and the duo of Corey Mooney and Kyle Pelzek each won doubles consolation crowns. Additionally, Ripon men's tennis won the postseason Sportsmanship Award given out by the Midwest Conference.
Prior to Ripon, Brickley was the assistant men’s and women’s tennis coach at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. In 2022-23, he helped the Duhawk men to a 12-8 record and an appearance in the American Rivers Conference tennis tournament. Three players were recognized as All-American Rivers Conference performers following the season.
The Loras women had an equally impressive campaign, finishing 14-7 and going to the ARC semifinals. Four women were named to the All-American Rivers Conference postseason team.
Brickley was a five-year performer for the Duhawk men’s tennis program. Throughout his career, Loras won 52 dual matches and appeared in the ARC Tournament in every dual season (not including the shortened 2019-20 COVID-19 season).
Originally from Galesburg, Illinois, Brickley graduated from Loras in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management. He also received a Coaching Leadership master’s degree from Loras in 2023.
