Bolivar, Mo. – SBU Head tennis coach Joao Almeida announces he will resign after 2024 spring season. The SBU alumni of 2019 has been the head tennis coach since the 2022 season and will finish out the 2024 season. His departure as head tennis coach is to explore family and professional opportunities.
 
"It's been one of the biggest privileges of my life to be the head coach of the SBU tennis team. Leaving the team is one of the hardest decisions I have ever made, one that took a lot of prayer, counseling, and pondering." Almeida said, "I will miss each player, faculty, and staff member and I will always be a big supporter of Southwest Baptist University."
 
"We are so thankful for Joao and his commitment to SBU throughout his time as a coach and a student-athlete. While we are sad to see Coach Almeida leave, we know that he will succeed in whatever he pursues.  We are also excited to watch him and our team for this 2024 season!  We wish he and his family the best in his future endeavors!"  - Director of Athletics, Clark Sheehy said.
 
During coach Almeida's time at the helm of the Bearcats he led the team to 2 GLVC West division titles, 2 GLVC tournament final appearances, and 2 National tournament appearances. In his first season, he led the women's tennis team to a sweet 16 appearance in Florida.
 
"My goal is to finish this season as strong as we possibly can and to leave the team in the best possible position for the future. I am extremely grateful for my 7 years here at SBU. For every single person who has impacted my life I meaningful ways. And I will never forget how sweet SBU has been to me and my family. Once a Bearcat, always a Bearcat!" - Almeida

Director of Athletics Clark Sheehy will be opening up a Nationwide search for the next SBU tennis coach. If interested, you can email him at csheehy@sbuniv.edu.