The Official Athletics Site of the Fresno Pacific University Sunbirds

Sam Gaeddert was named Head Coach of Fresno Pacific Men’s and Women’s Tennis in October 2022.  In his three years at the helm, he has quickly made an impact on the successes of both teams as well as establishing himself as a leader within the PacWest Conference and NCAA Division II West Region.

Under his leadership, numerous tennis student-athletes have earned all-conference honors, including All-PacWest 1^st Team Doubles in Nayuma Subba and Yume Uoeku in 2024 and Ravi Nelson earning back-to-back singles honors in 2024 and 2025.  Over 15 student-athletes have been named ITA Scholar Athletes, and every team he’s coached at FPU qualified for the ITA All-Academic Team.  Additionally, Malia Mitchell was named FPU’s 2024-25 Female Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Other milestones under Gaeddert include the men’s program’s first ever top-10 victory (NCAA D-II era) defeating #7 Rollins College, as well as achieving their highest ever national ranking (#26), both in 2025.

In addition to the program’s regional successes, Coach Gaeddert has been named to the D-II West Region Operating Committee Representative (Women’s Program) as well as the D-II West Region Women’s Ranking Committee Chair. He also successfully hosted and directed the 2023 ITA West Regional Championships at Fresno Pacific’s own Haak Tennis Complex.

Prior to coming to FPU, Gaeddert held over a decade of experience in competitive and professional tennis, with stints coaching at Bethel College (KS), Brown University (RI), and working in various capacities for the United States Tennis Association (USTA). While at Bethel College, he was named NAIA Region IV Assistant Coach of the Year and earned national recognition for his coaching in 2013. He led the women’s program to three consecutive NAIA National tournament appearances and helped both the men’s and women’s programs to top 25 rankings.

A standout student-athlete at Bethel, Gaeddert was a four-time all-conference selection, accumulating 98 career victories. He earned Freshman of the Year recognition and led the Threshers to two postseason appearances as team captain. He is currently a member of Bethel’s all-decade team (2000-2010).

Gaeddert resides in Fresno with his wife, Keila and two boys, Jackson and Wesley.


If you are potential student-athlete and want to be recruited to play tennis at FPU, please fill out the recruit form:  Men’s Tennis  |  Women’s Tennis