Coaching

CURRENT STAFF

mICHAEL bAHR

Head Coach

4th Season

michael.bahr@lemarscsd.org

JASON MARTIN

Assistant Coach

2nd Season

jason.martin@lemarscsd.org

PREVIOUS COACHES

CRAIG IHNEN

Craig Ihen is the first ever boys tennis coach at Le Mars Community. Under his leadership Le Mars Tennis was established as a fantastic program. Coach Ihen led the Bulldogs to a state runner-up finish.

Following his career as a tennis coach at Le Mars Community, Coach Ihnen went on to become the Executive Director of the Iowa High School Speech Association, until his retirement in June of 2022.

TRACY WINGERT

Tracy Wingert became the second head coach in the history of Le Mars Community. He led the team to a 4th place team finish in 1995.

Coach Wingert continued his service as the head girls coach and was an assistant on several boys state qualifying teams.

Coach Wingert remains a special advisor to the boys tennis program, and was an assistant coach on the MRAC championship team in 2022.

james cline

James Cline served as the third head coach in the history of Le Mars boys tennis from 1996-1998. Coach Cline continued to build on the foundation set by his predecessors and helped build a rich tradition of Le Mars tennis.

His tennis tenure included a team substate birth and a singles state tournament qualifier in 1996.

Coach Cline now serves as the principal of North Middle School in Sioux City, Iowa.

BRAD BERENDES

Coach Berendes career as the fourth head coach at Le Mars from 1998-2003. His tenure included leading the Bulldogs to a 4th place team finish in the 1998 season and a runner up finish in doubles that same year.

His teams included outstanding performances by letter winner Andy Claussen, and the Lakes Conference Doubles Champions, Roberts and Lacure.

Coach Berendes, now lives in Omaha with his family.

bILL dALTON

Bill Dalton's career as the fifth head coach of the Bulldogs spanned from 2003-2020. During that time his record included 5 Lakes Conference Championships, 3 District/Sectional Doubles Championships, 4 Singles District/Sectional Championships, and 5 trips to team state tennis (2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, & 2019) earning a second place finish in 2015 & 2016.

Coach Dalton retired in 2020, but remains an important staple in Le Mars tennis.

Alex Struck

After an All-American playing career at Morningside College in Sioux City, Coach Struck joined Bulldog Tennis as the sixth head coach in 2020.

His accomplishments included a team substate appearance in 2021, a singles qualifier in 2021, and a singles district championship in 2021.

In 2022, Coach Struck returned to his alma mater and took the helm of the Morningside tennis program where he is continuing his success.

Page updated

Report abuse