Kelly Stahlhuth, the second women's tennis coach in WU program history, begins her seventh season on the Danforth Campus.
Stahlhuth has led the Washington University women's tennis team to at least 11 wins in each of her six seasons on the Danforth Campus. Additionally, she has led the Bears to four-straight NCAA Tournament berths, and five overall trips to the postseason. In 2010-11 the Bears posted a 16-6 overall record and finished third in the University Athletic Association (UAA) for the first time since 2008. Washington University earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the second round for the fourth-straight season.
In her first season with the Red and Green, Stahlhuth mentored WU to a 14-9 overall record and its seventh-straight trip the NCAA Tournament. The Bears also took third place at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship in Atlanta, while junior Erin Fleming qualified for the NCAA Singles Championship in Santa Cruz, Calif.
She led the Bears to another above-.500 campaign in 2006-07, when they finished 11-10 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Her third season at the helm of the WU women's tennis program produced one of the most successful seasons in school history. Stahlhuth's squad posted a 17-6 overall record, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bears also placed third at the UAA Championship in St. Louis.
The 2009-10 campaign brought another NCAA Tournament berth and Stahlhuth's first trip to the NCAA Regional Championship. Additionally Kate Klein became the first player in school history to earn ITA Division III National Rookie of the Year honors while becoming the second student-athlete under Stahlhuth's tutelage to qualify for the NCAA Individual Championship.
Stahlhuth, who taught tennis professionally for 15 years, came to the Danforth Campus after serving as a professional tennis instructor at the Missouri Athletic Club West since 2003. She also had a stint there from 1995-97. Prior to her time at Missouri Athletic Club West, Stahlhuth served as a professional instructor at Town and Country Racquet Club from 1989-1995.
A graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., Stahlhuth captained the Hoosiers during her junior and senior seasons. A two-time Big Ten Player of the Year and four-time all-conference selection, Stahlhuth earned doubles All-America accolades in 1987 and 1989. For her efforts, she was also inducted into the Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002.
Stahlhuth graduated from Indiana in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in business (accounting). She earned a masters of art in management and leadership from Webster University in 2009.