COURT MARSHAL
Bret Beaver, former associate head coach of the Elon University women’s tennis program, joined Western Carolina University as head coach for women’s tennis prior to the beginning of the fall season. Beaver replaced Michaela Kissell-Eddins after her husband and assistant coach, Jacob Eddins, took an associate head coach job at Auburn University.
“I am grateful and humbled to be the next head women’s tennis coach at Western Carolina University. I am very excited to take over a program that Michaela Kissell-Eddins and Jacob Eddins had going in the right direction,” Beaver said. “I hope to build upon their success and continue Western Carolina University’s ascension in the Southern Conference.”
He spent three seasons at former conference foe Elon as an assistant coach and then associate head coach for the Phoenix women’s tennis program. In the 2018 season, the Phoenix reached the semi-finals of the CAA Tournament and placed four on the all-conference team.
“We wanted to bring in someone that had been a part of successful programs, with proven success on the recruiting side as well,” said Stacey Miller, WCU associate athletic director. “The best fit in this role understands student before athlete while maintaining a competitive program. We have found that in Coach Beaver.”
Prior to joining Elon in 2015, Beaver was an assistant women’s tennis coach at Charleston Southern University from 2013-15. There, he was instrumental in the success of a program that won the Big South Tournament championship during the 2015 season, earning a bid to the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships. The Buccaneers also won two Big South regular-season titles in 2014 and 2015.
