Francour Returns As Head Women’s Tennis Coach
Steve Francour, who served as the head women's tennis coach at UW-Oshkosh from 1990-2012, has returned to his former position of guiding the Titans. UW-Oshkosh Director of Athletics Darryl Sims made the announcement Thursday (May 5) following a national search to replace Jarod Camerota, who directed the Titans for one season.
"I'm ecstatic to welcome Steve back as our head women's tennis coach," Sims said. "He did an excellent job leading our tennis program for 23 years, and I look forward to watching him build on what he was able to do during his first experience with us."
Francour returns to UW-Oshkosh after piloting the men's and women's tennis programs at Lawrence University since 2013.
Francour coached the Lawrence University women to a 53-62 record, including a 6-5 mark last fall, when the Vikings finished third at the Midwest Conference Tournament. He also led Lawrence University to an 8-7 record and a fourth-place finish at the league tournament in 2019.
On the men's side, Francour steered Lawrence University to a 68-61 record. The Vikings compiled an 11-8 record in 2019 and finished second at the Midwest Conference Tournament. He was chosen as Midwest Conference Men's Tennis Coach of the Year in both 2016 and 2017.
In the classroom, Francour had 39 Lawrence University men and 37 women earn All-Academic honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
"I'm extremely excited about returning to UW-Oshkosh and taking over as the head women's tennis coach, Francour said. "When I left eight years ago, it was for a full-time position. With the UW-Oshkosh position now being full time, it is a great opportunity for me to come back and lead a program I know very well and love. I will do my best to provide our student-athletes with an environment that helps them achieve success both on and off the court."
Francour earned a 156-150 record coaching the UW-Oshkosh women from 1990-2012. He led the Titans to three second- and two third-place Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference finishes as well as an appearance in the league's postseason team tournament in 2009, 2011 and 2012. Francour was named the 2010 WIAC Coach of the Year after guiding UW-Oshkosh to a 9-8 record and a third-place finish in the league standings.
Francour's 2000 UW-Oshkosh team set a school record with 14 wins (14-5 record), and Jennifer Pekulik represented the Titans that spring at the 2001 NCAA Division III Championship. Francour also directed UW-Oshkosh's 1997 team to a 10-2 record and a second-place WIAC finish.
Francour coached seven WIAC singles and four league doubles champions during his first term at UW-Oshkosh. The Titans also has three WIAC Scholar-Athlete award winners as well as 35 ITA All-Academic selections.
Francour recorded his 100th women's tennis coaching victory during UW-Oshkosh's 7-2 win over UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 15, 2003, and his 200th during Lawrence University's 7-2 triumph over Knox College (Ill.) on Sept. 15, 2019.
Francour also served as the head men's tennis coach at UW-Oshkosh from 1991-2013. The Titans compiled a 240-238 record and participated in the Division III tournament in 1996, 1997 and 2001. UW-Oshkosh posted double-digit victories 14 times under Francour, including 10 consecutive winning seasons from 1994-2003. Francour had 30 men receive ITA All-Academic honors.
Francour registered his 500th overall coaching victory during Lawrence University's 6-3 women's victory over Cornell College (Iowa) on Sept. 7, 2019.
Francour, a South Milwaukee High School graduate, earned a bachelor's degree in sports management from UW-Oshkosh in 1988 and a master's degree in sports administration from Baylor University (Texas) in 1989. He was a four-year member of the UW-Oshkosh men's tennis team.
Francour has been the head tennis professional at the Oshkosh Country Club since 1993 and the Butte des Morts Country Club since 2008. He also was the director of tennis at the Oshkosh YMCA Tennis Center from 1998-2012 and a physical education instructor at UW-Oshkosh from 1993-1998.
Francour is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association and serves on the UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame committee.
Francour and his wife, Patty, live in Oshkosh. Their son, Cade, graduated from Lawrence University in 2020 and starred in tennis for the Vikings.