Mike Bonnell Named Head Tennis Coach

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green State University Director of Athletics and Recreation Bob Moosbrugger has announced the hiring of Mike Bonnell as head tennis coach. Bonnell takes over the program after spending the last six seasons at Ohio Northern, serving as the men's head coach since 2016 and women's interim head coach in 2021-22. He is the ninth head coach in the history of the BGSU Tennis program. He replaces Stephanie Dalmacio, who stepped down from the position to pursue other opportunities.

"We would like to welcome Mike Bonnell to the Falcon family," said Moosbrugger. "Mike has experienced success at every stop along his coaching journey. He is dedicated to the development of the holistic student-athlete experience and will be a great leader for our women's tennis program. We look forward to the growth of our tennis program under his leadership."

In his six years at ONU, Bonnell guided the men's team to a 73-41 overall record and Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular season and tournament titles in 2022. The men's squad set a program record with 23 wins last season, including a perfect 6-0 record in conference competition. In the 2022 NCAA D-III Tournament, the Polar Bears defeated Grove City before falling to No. 2 Case Western Reserve. The Polar Bears' 2021-22 women's squad finished 19-7 (11-5 under Bonnell) and advanced to the OAC Tournament Finals, finishing runner-up to Otterbein. On May 19, 2022, Bonnell was named OAC Men's Tennis Coach of the Year.

"I am truly grateful for the opportunity to lead the Falcons' Tennis team and join the athletic department at Bowling Green," said Bonnell. "I would like to thank Director of Athletics and Recreation, Bob Moosbrugger, and Associate AD for Operations, Events and Championships, Steve Messenger, for trusting me with this great responsibility. I'm going to hit the ground running and cannot wait to get that first practice underway."

Throughout his tenure at ONU, Bonnell coached 22 All-OAC honorees, 19 Academic All-OAC selections, and the 2018-19 OAC Player of the Year, Vinh Thai. Last season, six women's players were named All-OAC, with two earning Academic All-OAC. Prior to his time at Ohio Northern, Bonnell spent five seasons as the head coach of the men's tennis program at Methodist. He is the winningest coach in program history, compiling an 80-27 record. He mentored one USA South Player of the Year, one Rookie of the Year, and 20 All-USA South honorees. In 2014, he was named USA South Coach of the Year after guiding the Monarchs to a 19-7 record.

Bonnell's head coaching career began at Ohio Dominican, where he served as the women's coach for five seasons and men's coach for four seasons. During his time with the Panthers, he led the teams to postseason play each year and produced five nationally-ranked players. The women's squad won divisional championships in three of his six seasons at the helm. In 2005, he was named the American Mideast Conference South Division Women's Coach of the Year after finishing the season 16-7. In total, Bonnell has a career head coaching record of 270-137.

Last season, the Falcons saw two All-MAC selections and four Academic All-MAC selections. Ioanna Tsadari was named first-team All-MAC, with Selina Karg earning second-team honors. The duo was joined by Laura Maia Silveira and Hannah Neuman on the Academic All-MAC team, as the team finished the year with the department's highest GPA. Additionally, Karg earned one MAC Singles Player of the Week honor and paired with Neuman for a MAC Doubles Team of the Week honor.

Tsadari and Neuman return to the team for the 2022-23 campaign, as does sophomore Maru Poppe. Two transfers, Lucy Furness and Eloise Saraty, fill the remainder of the roster. Furness joins the Falcons after two seasons at Stephen F. Austin, where she earned Southland Conference third team singles honors in 2021. Saraty played three seasons at Liberty, earning VaSID All-State doubles second team in 2021.

Bonnell brings a variety of non-coaching tennis experiences to Bowling Green. He previously served on the NCAA National and Atlantic South Regional ranking committees, as well as the Men's Tennis Chair of the USA South Conference. He is a USPTA certified Elite Tennis Professional and has served as Director of Tennis for the Village of Pinehurst, Head Tennis Professional at Little Turtle Country Club, and Assistant Head Professional at the New Albany Tennis Center.

Bonnell is a 1992 graduate of Ohio Northern University, obtaining his bachelor's degree in Communications and Public Relations. He played tennis for the Polar Bears, ranking as high as No. 9 nationally in doubles play. He won three consecutive OAC No. 1 Doubles titles and ranks fourth in program history with a career doubles winning percentage of .851 (40-7). He also competed in the USPTA Men's 35s, earning Midwest Player of the Year, and ranking as high as 25th in 2007.

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Lucy Furness

Selina Karg

Hannah Neuman

Maru Poppe

Eloise Saraty

Laura Maia Silveira

Ioanna Tsadari

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