SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State head women's tennis coach Tory Plunkett announced Monday that Kendall Brooks had been named an assistant coach for the 2021-22 season.
 
'I always had the highest respect for Coach Brooks when she was at St. Edwards University," said Plunket.  "She created a very successful program there, and we are extremely lucky to have her on our staff.  She brings a lot of experience, enthusiasm, and success to the team."
 
Brooks served as a volunteer coach for the Bobcats in 2020-21 and seven years as the head coach at St. Edward's University.
 
"I am excited to officially be a part of the women's tennis program and grateful for the opportunity to call Texas State home," said Brooks. "I am looking forward to continuing to work and learn alongside Coach Plunkett, for whom I have the utmost respect and gratitude. Our similar coaching philosophy and competitive spirit will help as we push the program to new heights, and I am ready to get to work accomplishing those goals."
 
Brooks led St. Edward's to the 2019 Heartland Conference championship, advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16, and finished the season with the school's highest national ranking, No. 16, in 2019. She also mentored the school's first-ever All-American doubles team, Beth Hayward and Valentina Martinez, who finished the season as the nation's No. 2-ranked doubles team. She also coached the ITA Arthur Ashe National Leadership Award winner Paola Carpio. Martinez was named the Heartland Conference Senior of the Year, and Kate Malazonia was named the Heartland Rookie of the Year.
 
She was named the Wilson ITA South Central Coach of the Year after leading St. Edward's to a No. 17 national ranking during the season. The Hilltoppers finished as the runner-up finish in the Heartland Conference, earned an NCAA Tournament berth, and ended the year ranked No. 22.
 
Brooks produced four All-Heartland Conference players and a South-Central Region Rookie of the Year in 2016 and led the Hilltoppers to the 2015 NCAA Regionals, the first NCAA appearance for the school since 2012. In 2014, she led St. Edward's to the Heartland Conference Tournament Semifinals and produced the nation's No. 19-ranked doubles team.
 
She went to St. Edward's after serving as the junior development director and academy coach at the Austin Tennis Academy for seven years.
 
As the junior coach, Brooks led the 18-and-under team to national titles in 2009, 2011, and 2012. She led the 14-and-under team to a national championship in 2012.
 
She was named the Capital Area Tennis Association Pro of the Year in 2010 and the United States Tennis Professional Association's Texas Section Touring and National Touring Coach of the Year in 2011. Brooks was the Team Texas coach for the United States Tennis Association Boys' and Girls' 14 Zone Team Championships in 2012 and 2013.

Brooks also was an assistant coach at Texas Tech during the 2004–2005 and 2005–2006 seasons. The Red Raiders were nationally ranked in both seasons and finished with a combined 24-21 record.

A native of Corpus Christi, she was a four-year letterwinner for the Red Raiders, compiling a 61-58 career singles record and a 37-19 doubles mark. She was named the Big XII Player of the Week on April 15, 2002, after posting wins against Baylor and Oklahoma State. Brooks was a 2002 Big XII Position Champion in doubles and a 2003 preseason All-Big XII selection in doubles.
 
She served as team captain in her junior and senior seasons and was named All-Big XII All-Academic First-Team in 2002, 2003, and 2004. Brooks graduated from Texas Tech in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science with a minor in English and Spanish.