Bickett To Lead Men's & Women's Tennis Programs
UW-Oshkosh announced Friday (Aug. 8) the selection of Daniel Bickett as its new head men’s and women’s tennis coach.
Bickett comes to UW-Oshkosh after one year as the Director of Tennis at Premier Tennis & Fitness in Janesville. Bickett replaces Kim Evans, who served as the interim head coach for both UW-Oshkosh teams during the 2013-14 season.
At Premier Tennis & Fitness, Bickett managed a staff of four tennis professionals and developed programming and instructional goals for youth and adult tennis players. He also worked with the state’s tennis association to encourage league and tournament tennis participation in the greater Janesville community.
"I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity that Darryl Sims and the rest of the UW-Oshkosh community have given me,” said Bickett. “I’m excited about the prospect of coming to UW-Oshkosh and working with the talented student-athletes. This tennis program has a strong history in the WIAC, and I look forward to working as hard as I can to continue and build upon that tradition."
Prior to Premier Tennis & Fitness, Bickett was an assistant tennis coach at UW-Whitewater from 2007-13. Bickett developed instructional plans for team and individual practices, assisted in recruiting, and utilized social media to promote Warhawk tennis. He also worked with Study Buddy, a UW-Whitewater academic program that stressed strong work ethic and led to the selection of 73 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athletes.
On the court, Bickett helped the UW-Whitewater men and women qualify for six NCAA Division III postseason tournaments each. The women reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2010, 2012 and 2013 and the men in 2007 and 2011. Individually, Bickett helped eight UW-Whitewater players earn All-America recognition.
In 2010, the ITA named Bickett its NCAA Division III Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year. He also received the same award on the men’s side in 2013.
During his last two seasons at UW-Whitewater, Bickett was involved with the operation of the Warhawk Tennis Camp. He assisted in the preparation of 14 camps that featured 650 participants each year.
“Daniel stood out in the application process, and I’m excited to have him join our staff and take over the leadership of our men’s and women’s tennis teams,” said UW-Oshkosh Director of Athletics Darryl Sims. “He is familiar with our conference and dedicated to the sport of tennis. Daniel also owns a proven track record of being able to recruit student-athletes and develop them on the court, in the classroom and in the community.”
Bickett was the head boys tennis coach at Madison West High School in 2009 and 2010. He tutored five state tournament qualifiers, including a pair in singles play.
Outside of his tennis coaching experience in Janesville, Whitewater and Madison, Bickett also served as the Head Racquets Professional at the Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park, Ill. He also was on the tennis staff at the Four Lakes Athletic Club in Elkhorn, College Park Athletic Club in Bannockburn, Ill., and the Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, Ill.
A graduate of Langham Creek High School in Houston, Texas, Bickett played the 2006-07 tennis season at UW-Whitewater. Bickett, 26, received his bachelor’s degree (finance) and master’s degree (professional development) from UW-Whitewater in 2010 and 2012, respectively.