University of Delaware Athletics
Men's Tennis
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- bamyers@udel.edu
- Phone:
- 484-620-0411
Following his hiring on March 30, 2016, Bruce Myers dug in immediately to make his mark as the head coach of the University of Delaware men’s tennis program.
Myers stepped down from his position to become the head coach at Bucknell University in August 2016.
A team that had not won since March 2014, the Blue Hens responded immediately to Myers’ arrival in Newark by rattling off three victories in his first six contests.
The 2016-17 squad will continue to embark on new territory, as Myers will welcome six newcomers to a team that lost just three to graduation in May 2016.
Myers joined the Blue Hens after spending two seasons at the helm of the women’s tennis program at Longwood University. His career also includes stints at North Carolina A&T, Randolph-Macon College, and Immaculata University.“I am thrilled to join the Blue Hens family, not only for the opportunity to lead the men’s tennis program, but also to become a part of this great university,” remarked Myers. “My sister graduated from the University of Delaware 25 years ago and so much has changed since I was last on campus. UD has certainly grown and come of age and I am excited to both coach and compete in the Colonial Athletic Association.”
During Myers’ time at Longwood, the Lancers compiled a 16-21 overall record and 2-8 mark in Big South play. He led Longwood to a 10-14 overall mark last season, the program’s first 10-win season since 2011-12. Before stepping down at Longwood earlier this month, Myers posted a record of 6-7 through the first half of the season.
In his first season with the Lancers, the school’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee selected Myers as the 2014-15 Longwood Coach of the Year.
“We are very excited for Bruce to join the Delaware staff as our men’s tennis head coach,” commented Stacey Bunting-Thompson, sport administrator and Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations. “His passion for the sport of tennis and his enthusiasm for coaching and teaching student-athletes is impressive and will have a positive impact on the young men in our program both on and off the court. We look forward to working with Bruce here with the Blue Hens.”
A 1993 graduate of Randolph-Macon with a degree in business economics, Myers enjoyed a decorated playing career with the Yellow Jackets and earned All-ODAC singles honors in 1992 and 1993 as well as serving as the team captain for three seasons.
Following his graduation, he delved into the business sector and held the title of Chief Executive Officer at The National Financial News Services (1993-2006) and Shoprate.com (2004-07) before returning to the sport he loves as a tennis pro at Radnor Valley Country Club in 2008.
He would eventually parlay that experience into a stint as the assistant men’s and women’s tennis coach at Immaculata University before rejoining his alma mater as the Director of Tennis in 2012.
Alongside his foray into the business world, Myers continued his tennis career and became one of the Top Men’s 35 players in Philadelphia. A certified tennis professional by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), he was the top-ranked Men’s 35 pro in the USTA Philadelphia Section in 2011, the second-ranked in the Middle State Section and No. 15 nationally.
He has competed in the USTA Talbert Cup three times and won championships at the 2012 Sportime Randalls Island February Adult Championship, 2011 Courtside Adult Classic, 2011 Royal Sims Tennis Classic, 2011 Friends of Chamounix Summer Classic and the 2011 Straub Brewery Clay Court Championship.
“I would like to thank Dr. Robinson, Stacey Bunting-Thompson and Laura Travis for their guidance and assistance in the entire hiring process,” Myers stated. “I look forward to moving the program in a positive direction. I am also looking forward to working very closely with the Alumni, hoping to bring them and their support back to campus, and having current players gain a great deal from their knowledge and experience. We have many former student-athletes who are still active tennis players in the local community, so it would make perfect sense to reach out to them to become mentors both athletically and professionally for our current student-athletes. Alumni support is vital to the growth and health of any intercollegiate program.”
Myers will be just the fourth coach in the past 64 years of Blue Hens men’s tennis and the 13th coach overall in the 100 year-plus history of the program.
Myers and his wife, Samantha, have three sons: Joel, Brett and Xavier, and two stepsons: Evans and Ben.
|
Myers Career Year-by-Year |
||||
| Year | School | Title | Record | Conference Record |
| 2012-13 | Randolph-Macon | Director of Men's Tennis | 10-13 (.435) | 4-6 ODAC (.400) |
| 2012-13 | Randolph-Macon | Director of Women's Tennis | 9-15 (.375) | 6-5 ODAC (.545) |
| 2013-14 | North Carolina A&T | Women's Head Coach | 3-15 (.167) | 0-6 MEAC (.000) |
| 2014-15 | Longwood | Women's Head Coach | 10-14 (.417) | 1-6 Big South (.143) |
| 2015-16 | Longwood | Women's Head Coach | 6-7 (.462) | 1-2 Big South (.333) |
| 2015-16 | Delaware | Men's Head Coach | 3-5 (.375) | 0-1 CAA (.000) |
| Delaware Career |
One Season | 3-5 (.375) |
0-1 (.000) |
|
| Men's Career |
Two Seasons | 13-18 (.419) |
4-7 (.364) |
|
| Women's Career | Four Seasons | 28-51 (.354) |
8-19 (.296) |
|
