Coaches

Coach Sagers joined the Tiger tennis coaching staff in the 2016-17 season as the assistant coach, where she had taken the lead on player development and building the depth of the team.  Given her experience, Coach Sagers has taken the role of head coach.  The Cedar Falls Tigers have since been MVC champions, team has earned fourth place twice, and second place once in the state tournament.  In the individual tournament she has coached two state doubles titles, one third place in doubles, one third place and a fifth and two eighth place finishes in singles.  Sagers has earned 2021 and 2022 MVC  Coach of the Year and 2023 NFHS Iowa Girls Tennis Coach of the Year.

Sagers played tennis at Columbus High School as a four year varsity player.  She played #2 singles and #1 doubles capturing Single-Class 1992 Team State Championship, as well as Single-Class 1993 Doubles State Championship with partner Krissy Rydell.  In 1999, she place 4th at Nationals 4.5 USTA Team Tennis.   Coach Sagers is the Director of Operations and Marketing at the Black Hawk Tennis Club, she runs the Youth Progression program at the tennis club along with many private tennis lessons and now pickleball lessons.  She also runs the Youth Tennis Program for the Cedar Falls Rec Center in the summer.  Tara is married to Chris Sagers, UNI Women's Tennis Coach and USPTA Elite teaching professional.  Chris and Tara live in Cedar Falls and have two children, Madison a freshman at Grand Canyon University in Arizona and Mackenzie, a freshman at Peet Junior High.