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Head Coach Bill Hehli
Office Number: (608) 785-8676; E-Mail: hehli.will@uwlax.edu
Bill Hehli begins his 14th year as head coach of the University of Wisconsin-La
Crosse men’s and women’s tennis teams in 2008.
His familiarity with the program made him a logical choice as head coach. He
was a standout player at UW-L from 1991-94 before serving as the assistant coach
in 1995. During his playing career he received All-WIAC honors a combined six
times, qualified for the NAIA national tournament in 1991 and was a nationally
ranked player at the NCAA Division III level in 1993-94. 
In 13 years as the men’s coach, Hehli has led the team to a NCAA Midwest
regional ranking seven times. Several players have been individually ranked
in the Midwest under Hehli, and he has coached two NCAA All-Americans. He has
led the Eagles to two Northern Collegiate Tennis Association Tournaments titles.
In his first 13 seasons with the women, the Eagles have had a winning record
every year, have been ranked in the NCAA Midwest region the past 10 years,
and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament Second Round in 2007. UW-L
finished 18th in the nation in 2001. UW-L captured the 2003, 2005 and 2006 Wisconsin
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship under Hehli. He was
named the WIAC Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2005.
Hehli believes one of his best coaching assets is his ability to relate to
the student-athletes. “I’m young enough to know what is going through
a players mind, on or off the court. I have been in many of the same situations
as a player and a student, and because of that, have been able to effectively
help my student athletes do well here.”
“The best part of being a coach is seeing the student athletes succeed,
and knowing that I was a part of that success, Hehli says. “The best way
to help someone succeed is to get to know them well enough to push the right
motivational buttons for that individual. If I can help the individual player
succeed, it not only helps them, but helps our team be successful.”
“My coaching style is not clearly set in any one category. I adapt the
way I deal with student athletes to the student athletes themselves. Some need
to constantly be pushed to achieve, others need nothing more than a pat on the
back. I’m here to help the student athlete, in whatever way I can. My only
requirement is that everyone work as hard as they can to succeed, and I think
if that is the case, the results take care of themselves.”
| Hehli's Career Capsule | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Men | Women |
| 1995-96 | 6-13 | 8-7 |
| 1996-97 | 10-10 | 10-5 |
| 1997-98 | 8-14 | 12-3 |
| 1998-99 | 13-6 | 14-3 |
| 1999-00 | 8-11 | 11-7 |
| 2000-01 | 16-3 | 18-5 |
| 2001-02 | 16-5 | 14-8 |
| 2002-03 | 16-3 | 9-5 |
| 2003-04 | 17-4 | 14-3 |
| 2004-05 | 6-7 | 16-4 |
| 2005-06 | 13-10 | 17-3 |
| 2006-07 | 15-8 | 19-6 |
| 2007-08 | 11-7 | 14-7 |
| Totals | 155-101 | 176-66 |
