SFA Welcomes Kim Gidley as Head Coach of Tennis Program
7/28/2026 12:00:00 PM | General, Women's Tennis
NACOGDOCHES, Texas-- Stephen F. Austin Athletics is thrilled to announce the hiring of Kim Gidley as the new Head Coach of the University's tennis program. Gidley brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in collegiate tennis to SFA. Her extensive coaching career, highlighted by her remarkable tenure at the United States Air Force Academy and more recent role at the University of Denver, positions her as an exciting addition to the SFA athletics community.
"We are proud to welcome Kim Gidley to the Lumberjack family," remarked SFA Director of Athletics Michael McBroom. "Throughout her distinguished career, Kim has established herself as one of the most respected coaches in collegiate tennis by building highly competitive programs and developing student-athletes who excel on the court, in the classroom and in their communities. She has demonstrated time and again that she doesn't simply recruit talented players—she develops them into outstanding competitors and leaders."
Gidley comes to SFA with over 25 years of experience in coaching and developing competitive collegiate tennis programs. Most recently, she served as an assistant coach at the University of Denver, where she played a pivotal role in the team's successes, including leading the Pioneers to their 12th consecutive Summit League Championship in 2026 and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2025 and 2026. Her tenure at Denver was marked by raising the program to historic success, coaching multiple nationally ranked doubles teams, and contributing to significant wins over ranked opponents, while rising to a team-high ranking of No. 26.
McBroom added, "Beyond her success on the court, Kim has a unique ability to build meaningful relationships with alumni, supporters and the broader tennis community, creating enthusiasm and investment that strengthens a program for years to come. Her 25 years of Division I head-coaching experience, deep knowledge of the game, and ability to build a winning culture make her the ideal leader for our women's tennis program. As we usher in a new era for SFA Tennis through the development of new tennis facilities, it was important to identify a leader with the vision, experience, and commitment to capitalize on that momentum. We are confident Kim will elevate our program, strengthen its connection to the tennis community, and provide an exceptional experience for our student-athletes for years to come. "
Before her time at Denver, Gidley was the Head Women's Tennis Coach at the United States Air Force Academy from 1998 to 2023. During her tenure, she became the winningest coach in the program's history with 350 wins. Under her leadership, the Falcons achieved a Top 50 national ranking and secured the Mountain West Conference West Division co-championship in the 2018-19 season—the first such title by an Air Force women's team. Gidley also led the team to 14 consecutive winning seasons, the longest streak among the Academy's 27 sports teams, and was named Mountain West Women's Tennis Coach of the Year in 2019 after posting a 22-3 record.
In addition, Gidley was recognized for her work at Air Force by receiving the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award. This distinguished honor is the fourth highest award a civilian can earn from the United States Department of the Air Force, which recognizes those who display outstanding service to the Air Force in the performance of duties in an exemplary manner.
Gidley's career at Air Force was distinguished by developing players to national prominence, including coaching 19 all-conference singles players and 16 all-conference doubles players. Her teams consistently performed well academically, with 55 players earning academic all-conference awards and 14 achieving ITA Scholar-Athlete honors. Gidley's coaching career began as an assistant at West Virginia University and the University of Idaho, where she also pursued her Ph.D. in sports psychology. Her coaching journey also includes a notable stint at her alma mater, Abilene High School, where she contributed to a Texas 5A State Championship.
"I am honored for the opportunity Michael McBroom has given me by being named Head Women's Tennis Coach here at Stephen F. Austin State University," stated Gidley. "I see the vision he wants to build, and I am thrilled to be a part of his team. It is great to tie my West Texas roots with his, and I am excited to build something extra special here in East Texas. The values SFA places on building the women's tennis program and winning the right way were evident on my visit."
Gidley added, "I can't wait to build upon the success of the women's tennis program and grow a special culture and build traditions for the players/alumni, the community, and Stephen F. Austin State University. A special thank you to Jordan Berry and Bryson Harris for all the effort in the interview process and the incredible hospitality of everyone I met in the athletic department. Each person made me feel welcomed, and I could see their passion for SFA."
Gidley was a standout player in her own right, having competed at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. She was a two-time All-American and played a vital role in the team's NCAA Division II National Championship victories in 1988 and 1989. Her collegiate achievements earned her a place in SIUE's Athletic Hall of Fame. Gidley also represented Abilene Christian University, contributing to a national runner-up finish and earning national recognition in singles and doubles rankings, finishing at No. 3 in singles and No. 5 in doubles in 1989.
Beyond the court, Gidley has been committed to academic excellence and community engagement. She has been recognized multiple times for her contributions to sportsmanship and leadership, including receiving the National USTA/ITA Community Outreach Award. Under her guidance, teams have consistently achieved high academic performance, highlighted by nine consecutive Top 10% APR finishes.
Gidley's involvement in tennis extends to various professional affiliations and certifications, including being a certified teaching professional with the United States Professional Tennis Association and serving as an official for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and United States Tennis Association.
Tim McMurray of Game One led the national search process on behalf of SFA, along with Senior Associate Athletics Director Jordan Berry and Director of Marketing/Tennis Sport Administrator Bryson Harris.
--
#AxeEm
