UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; May 13, 2019 – Penn State women's tennis head coach Chris Cagle today announced he is stepping down to pursue other professional opportunities in tennis. Cagle spent five full seasons at the helm of the women's tennis program and a total of eight years at Penn State, including three as an assistant with the men's tennis team.
Cagle's resignation is effective May 31. A national search for Penn State's 11th women's tennis head coach will begin immediately.
"We are very appreciative of the impact Chris Cagle has made on our student-athletes," said Sandy Barbour, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. "Chris has led our women's tennis program with integrity, high character and a positive attitude throughout his tenure at Penn State. On behalf of our ICA team, we wish Chris and his family all the best in this new chapter in their lives."
"My eight years at Penn State have been some of the best times of my life and for my family!" Cagle said. "I have made the very difficult decision to pursue an opportunity that will put me closer to my family, and provide additional tennis opportunities for my son Drew, as the Director of Tennis at the Randy Pate Tennis Academy and LTP in Mount Pleasant, S.C. I would like to thank Sandy Barbour, Charmelle Green, Mike Cross, Jan Bortner and Dave Joyner for believing in me and my staff to lead our student-athletes to a lifetime of impact! Their leadership and resolve to make Penn State the nation's premier athletic department and premier athletic-academic experience for our 800 student-athletes is demonstrated on a daily basis.
"The teams I have coached have been successful on court with a Big Ten semifinal appearance and top four Big Ten regular season finish as highlights," Cagle added. "Those achievements only tell part of the story as our I know our women's tennis student-athletes will be leaders in their individual fields and also great parents to a future generation! The daily interaction, van trips, tough losses and amazing victories with them will stand out as I think back about the determination that our teams have shown. I will cherish those times! I will always be a Penn State fan and supporter and look forward to rooting for the Nittany Lions from afar. We Are!"
Cagle directed the Nittany Lions to 11 wins during the 2019 season, the team's most dual-match victories since 2015. The Nittany Lions reached a team ranking of No. 49 this year, their first top-50 ranking since the 2016 season. Penn State also knocked off then-No. 48 VCU for its first win over a ranked opponent since 2015.
In addition to the experienced gained and successes this season, there weren't any graduating seniors on the 2019 roster.
Under Cagle's guidance, the women's tennis team has earned a perfect 1,000 multi-year NCAA Academic Progress Rate score in three of the past four years. The 2018 women's tennis team earned the Milton K. Morgan Jr. Highest Team Overall GPA Award to further highlight the squad's impressive team academic achievements under Cagle.
The 2015 Nittany Lions finished fourth in the Big Ten with a 9-4 record, marking the program's highest-ever finish in the conference standings. Cagle also mentored and developed Kimberly-Ann Surin (2016) and Dasha Sapogova (2014) to All-Big Ten honors.
Prior to his appointment as the leader of the women's program, Cagle spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Penn State men's tennis team under head coach Jeff Zinn. Cagle had served one season on staff with Zinn at Wake Forest before coming to Happy Valley.
"I am appreciative to (assistant coaches) Mike Fenwick and Alexandra Anghelescu for their tireless work and support during their time at Penn State," Cagle said. "Lastly, I would like to thank Jeff Zinn. Coach Zinn has been a mentor to me, but more importantly, he is a great friend. He brought me to Happy Valley and has taught me so much in terms of how to be a great coach and leader but more importantly about how to be a great person!"
Before joining the Demon Deacons, Cagle established himself as one of the top junior tennis coaches, coaching players to 10 national junior titles. He coached players in all four Junior Grand Slams, and twice coached a player in the main draw of a Grand Slam. In addition, Cagle coached and trained women's players that won NCAA Singles, Doubles and Team Championships including the MVP of a NCAA Championship team.
Originally from Greensboro, N.C., Cagle was a member of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington men's tennis program from 1989-93. He was the first two-time captain in UNCW men's tennis program history. In 2009, he reached the No. 1 ranking in United States men's 30s singles competition and in 2010, Cagle received the Mary Milam Lifetime Achievement Award from North Carolina Tennis for his contributions to junior tennis.
