New Leadership for Tennis, Familiar Role for Brooks

Kendall Brooks was named the eighth head coach the Texas State women’s tennis program on June 30, 2022. Her journey through the game of tennis, on and off the court has seen its triumphs and devasting moments. But it is those moments that have led her to where she is today as the leader of her own program… again. 

Brooks grew up playing both tennis and basketball, splitting time between the two. Having collegiate offers for both sports, she capitalized on the opportunity to play tennis in the Big 12 Conference. 

The Corpus Christi native made the trip from the bottom of the state to the top, going from the coast to West Texas. She played tennis at Texas Tech for four years beginning in 2000. 

Brooks worked her way up the lineup for the Red Raiders and served as the team for two seasons. 

She was on the career path of becoming a teacher during her time as a student-athlete, but she realized the leadership role and the moments she enjoyed most about collegiate tennis were too rewarding to pass up. She deviated from her path as a teacher in the classroom to one on the court. 

After graduation, Brooks earned the opportunity to be the assistant coach at her alma mater. She helped guide the Red Raiders to be nationally ranked in the top-60 in two seasons on staff.

After spending more than half-a-decade in Lubbock, Brooks moved to Austin to become a youth academy coach. In 2013, Brooks was called back to the collegiate space and finally had the opportunity to leader her first program. She became the head coach at St. Edward’s University, a Division II school in Austin. 

Brooks took the Hilltoppers program to new heights. The 2018 ITA South Central Coach of the Year guided them to a conference championship, multiple NCAA appearances, and the program’s highest national ranking at No. 16. 

However, in 2020 and amidst the global pandemic, one of the worst things a head coach could experience happened. The St. Edward’s tennis program was cut due to financial reasons. 

“It was weird thing, no one really knew what was going to happen, and how long it was going to last,” Brooks said. 

During this period of uncertainty, Brooks felt lost.

“Having lost everything that I had just spent the last seven years building, it was sad,” Brooks said. “It was definitely nerve-racking and trying to figure out what the next step was going to be for me and what the right move was.” 

She could have pursued a typical 9-to-5 job, but instead she decided to stay on the coaching path. She looked everywhere as it did not matter what the opportunity looked like.

Brooks reached out to then-head coach of the Bobcats, Tory Plunkett. The two originally met when Brooks was an assistant at Texas Tech when they would host fall tournaments. When Brooks’ time ended in Lubbock, she reached out to Plunkett to see if she needed an assistant, but at that time the program did not have an assistant position available. 

The two stayed in touch when Brooks and St. Edward’s would compete against the Bobcats in tournaments.  

Plunkett knew Brooks would be back sooner rather than later to the collegiate coaching circuit based on how she handled her program being cut. 

“The most important aspect when she was going through her toughest time was that she handled the situation with class and grace,” said Plunkett.  

In 2020, Brooks joined the Texas State coaching staff as a volunteer assistant. She knew she had to be back in the environment she loved and getting to mentor the student-athletes, even on a volunteer basis.

“Once I got involved with the team here, the university and the athletic department, I could tell that this would be a great fit,” said Brooks. “If the opportunity ever came up for me to get a permanent job here, that would be something I definitely would want to explore.”

Brooks progressed towards a permanent role when she became the assistant coach the following season.  

Over time, Brooks eventually brought in some familiar faces. In her second season, Brooks was joined by Kate Malazonia and Kylee Shannon, who played under her at St. Edward’s. 

“It was really cool for them to get that opportunity, because just like me, their program had been taken away from them,” Brooks said. “For me to give them that opportunity to come and continue to play for me as well was really cool.”

Just like the coach at Texas Tech that gave Brooks the opportunity to begin her coaching career, she has now returned that opportunity to Beth Hayward, another Hilltopper that played under Brooks. Hayward was named her graduate assistant coach this summer.

Brooks knows what the transition of new head coach is like, as she experienced the same thing her senior year of college.

The transition has benefited from the fact that Plunkett allowed Brooks to run practices and mostly handle the recruiting process the last two years. This has made the transition in leadership seamless for the athletes.

Brooks has even quickly put her stamp on the roster as her first recruiting class was made up of two experienced transfers as well as two freshmen. 

“It is exciting to shape the team into what you want it to be,” said Brooks. 

Every coach desires success throughout their career, especially in their first season leading a program. Brooks already has one tournament under her belt this fall. Last weekend at the ASU Slam Fest, Brooks guided the team to win two singles flights, including the top draw, and two doubles flights. Jadeh Chan also went 6-0 in her matches. 

The first fall tournament provided a preview of what Bobcat Nation can expect.

“The expectation is that you are going to see a team that is fired up, going to bring the energy and the fight,” Brooks said.

From one Texas State tennis head coach to another, Plunkett knows Brooks can not only meet expectations but go beyond them.

“She will definitely be able to bring the tennis program to the next level.”