WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - On Monday, Director of Athletics Alicia Queally announced Jeff Splinter as the head coach of the University of Hartford men's and women's tennis teams.

"We are pleased to welcome Jeff Splinter to the University of Hartford, as we bring back men's and women's tennis to campus", said Director of Athletics Alicia Queally. "Throughout the interview process, it was clear that his ability to recruit talent, implement a strong team culture, and also maintain connections with his former student-athletes was at the forefront. Jeff has experience with both men's and women's tennis programs at all levels of coaching in higher education which will serve us well. In addition, bringing tennis back to campus also provides us with a great opportunity to reconnect with our tennis alums and honor all that they brought to us as a department during their time here on campus. It is important that they know that they are a huge part of who we are as a department. We are excited to create new memories for our past, present, and future tennis student-athletes with Jeff at the helm."

Splinter comes to Hartford from Frostburg State, where he was the head men's and women's tennis coach. Over his time at Frostburg State, Jeff climbed the coaching ranks serving as a graduate assistant coach for both tennis programs for the 2017-18 season before being elevated to the interim head tennis coach for the 2018-19 season and eventually earning the head coach title for both programs.

"Thank you to Alicia Queally and the search committee for the opportunity to bring this esteemed program back to the campus of Hartford", said Splinter. "I am looking forward to getting started and be back in division three to provide all our student-athletes with the best experience possible. I am excited to build a competitive culture with high character students who will look to be involved around campus and the community."

During the 2023-24 season, the women's program compiled a 12-9 record, which marked the first winning season for the women in over 20 years. In addition, both the men's and women's teams mad the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Playoffs for the first time in school history. The women were the 3rd seed, and the men were the 4th seed.
 
In his first two years at Frostburg State, Splinter helped revitalize both the men's and women's programs. Both teams improved in every major statistical category and won a combined 11 matches, the second-highest total since Frostburg joined the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC).
 
In Splinter's second season with Frostburg's program, both teams were recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) as All-Academic teams with five women's players and three men's players lauded as ITA Scholar-Athletes.
 
Before his time in Frostburg, Splinter spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Millikin University. He served as the recruiting coordinator for The Big Blue. Millikin men's tennis posted a 26-17 record and the women's squad went 21-12 in his two years in Decatur, Illinois.
 
He also had a one-year stay as an assistant tennis coach and intern at The College of New Jersey where both the men's and women's tennis teams reached the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
Splinter was a team assistant for Judson University from 2013-14 and has served as the head of the tennis department for Camp Walden since 2012.
 
Splinter played two years of tennis and earned his Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Judson University in 2014. He completed his Master's degree Educational Leadership from Frostburg State in 2018.

The Hawks will grow both programs over the next academic year and begin varsity competition in the Conference of New England (CNE) beginning fall 2025.   

Splinter will begin his duties at the University of Hartford in August 2024.

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