Roger Follmer guided Washington University in St. Louis to the NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis National Championship in 2008, establishing the Bears as one of the premier programs in Division III.

Follmer, the 2006 and 2009 ITA/Wilson Division III National Coach of the Year, has mentored 21 All-Americans to date – Brian Alvo (2002, 2004), Charlie Cutler (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), Chris Hoeland (2007, 2008, 2009), Neil Kenner (2003), Ari Rosenthal (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) and John Watts (2007, 2008, 2009) – in eight seasons as head coach of the Bears.

Watts, who placed second at the NCAA Singles Championship in 2007, captured Washington U’s first individual men’s tennis national championship by winning the Division III Wilson/ITA National Small College Singles Title in 2007.

The team advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in 2003, 2004, and 2007, took home a fourth-place finish in 2009.

The Bears completed one of the best seasons in school history with a fourth-place finish at the 2009 NCAA Division III Championship. WU set a new single-season record for wins with a 22-4 overall record, and they posted a school-record 19-match winning streak. Washington University also captured its first University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship with a 5-4 win over Emory.

Follmer guided Washington U. to a school-record 21-4 overall mark and a second place finish at the UAA championship in 2008. The Bears rebounded from a loss to Emory in the UAA championship with a 5-3 victory over the Eagles on May 15 in Lewiston, Maine, claiming their first-ever national championship.

In 2006-07, the Bears posted a 20-5 overall mark and appeared in the NCAA quarterfinals for the fourth time in school history. In 2005-06, Follmer guided the Bears to an 18-3 overall mark and a second-place finish at the UAA Championship.

Off the court, Follmer’s players have also been getting the job done in the classroom. For the 2007-08 school year, the Bears boasted a 3.39 team grade-point average to earn 2008 ITA All-Academic Team honors.

Follmer, who has posted a 135-44 (.754) overall record at Washington University, arrived on the Danforth Campus from the United States Naval Academy, where he served as the men’s tennis assistant coach for two seasons. During his tenure in Annapolis, he helped guide the Midshipmen to a pair of 18-11 seasons and back-to-back appearances in the Patriot League Tournament final. Navy also earned its first national team ranking in February 2000.

Prior to his work at the Naval Academy, Follmer spent three seasons as the assistant coach at Purdue University. Working with 1996 Big Ten Coach of the Year Tim Madden, Follmer helped bring the Boilermakers from last place in the Big Ten to a No. 38 national ranking and an appearance in the final of the 1999 Big Ten Championship.

A 1991 graduate of Lindbergh High School in St. Louis, Follmer was a two-year tennis letterman and senior captain at Purdue University. He graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology and earned his master’s degree in special education, also from Purdue, in 1999.

Follmer was also named head coach of the World Team Tennis St. Louis Aces on March 23, 2009.

Quick Facts About Follmer

Years at WU: Eight (135-44, .754)

Previous Coaching Experience:
1999-2001: Served as the assistant men's tennis coach at the United States Naval Academy. Under his tutelage, the Midshipmen earned their first-ever national team ranking in February of 2000 and posted back-to-back 18-win seasons.
1996-99: Assistant coach at Purdue University. He helped bring the Boilermakers from last in the Big Ten to a No. 38 national ranking and an appearance in the finals of the 1999 Big Ten Championship.
2009: Head coach of the World Team Tennis St. Louis Aces.

College Career:
Lettered two years at Purdue University, serving as team captain his senior season.

Education:
Graduated with a bachelor's degree in speech pathology and audiology from Purdue University, 1996. Earned his Master's degree in Special Education from Purdue, 1999.

Honors:
Wilson/ITA Division III National Coach of the Year, 2006
Wilson/ITA Division III Regional Coach of the Year, 2006
Missouri Valley St. Louis President’s Award, 2008
Missouri Valley USPTA College Coach of the Year, 2008
Wilson/ITA Division III National Coach of the Year, 2009
Wilson/ITA Division III Regional Coach of the Year, 2009

Family:
Single.

Year-by-Year with Roger Follmer