Women's Tennis
- Title :
- Head Coach
- E-Mail:
- jody.bronson@marquette.edu
- Phone:
- 288-5146
- Experience :
- 35th Year
The 2019-20 campaign marked Jody Bronson's 35th at Marquette and she announced her well-deserved retirement at the conclusion of the season, leaving Marquette having guided multiple teams to postseason action and players to individual accolades.
In 2018-19, Bronson had two All-BIG EAST players for the second consecutive year as Fleur Eggink earned first team accolades and Milica Novakovic notched second team honors. In dual action the Golden Eagles finished with a 12-10 record overall and reached the BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinals.
It was another winning season for the Golden Eagles in the 2017-18 campaign as the squad finished 12-10 overall and reached the BIG EAST Championship semifinals for the third time in four seasons. For the second consecutive season Marquette had two players earn All-BIG EAST honors as Natalija Popovic claimed the Rookie of the Year title and a sport on the first team, while Fleur Eggink was selected to the second team.
The Marquette Golden Eagles were 15-8 in 2016-17, and were led by Silvia Ambrosio and Paula Tormos Sanchez who each earned All-BIG EAST accolades for the 2017 season. Marquette has posted winning campaigns in 25 of 35 seasons, including the program's best winning percentage of 90.5 in 1988-89.
Named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1999, Bronson currently enjoys the longest tenure of any coach in Marquette's 16-sport Intercollegiate Athletic Department and is also the only active coach with over 400 career wins.
In 2015-16, Bronson was a crucial influence towards the stellar season of freshman Silvia Ambrosio. Under Bronson's watch, Ambrosio was able to clinch the BIG EAST Freshman of the Year award and was tabbed as one of just three players to be unanimous selections to All-BIG EAST Team. In her rookie campaign, Ambrosio compiled a 12-4 dual singles record to go along with a 14-4 doubles record alongside senior partner Erin Gebes.
The 2014-15 campaign was a positive one for the Golden Eagles as for the second consecutive year Bronson led MU to the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals. The squad earned a No. 4 seed in the tournament with a 12-11 overall record in dual play and Ana Pimienta was named to the BIG EAST All-Conference team for the second year in-a-row.
In 1998-99, Bronson led Marquette to its first Conference USA title and third consecutive NCAA appearance. That season, Bronson's team notched 19 wins, tying her 1988-89 team for second-best in terms of total wins. For her efforts and continued success, she was named Conference USA Coach of the Year. The squad also finished the year ranked No. 25, marking the best year-end ranking ever for the program.
Conference USA was the fourth league in which Bronson's team dominated the season. In 1991-92, her team ran off a 16-4 record, taking the top spot in the inaugural season of the Great Midwest Conference. Named Great Midwest Coach of the Year, Bronson led her team to the second-best winning percentage in Marquette women's tennis history, at .800. The .800-mark in 1991-92 is only bettered by the 1988-89 team that went 19-2 under Bronson, to claim the North Star Conference Championship. Named the North Star Conference Coach of the Year that season, Bronson had led Marquette to an impressive 66-36 record over her first four seasons, good for a 64.7 winning percentage.
Bronson's history at Marquette has been a model of success. In addition to three conference championships, the tennis team has been the runner-up in conference on six occasions, and only nine times has the team finished lower than fourth among its conference brethren.
Prior to her appointment at Marquette, she served as a highly-touted tennis instructor at Le Club Tennis Club, from 1976-1989, Brynwood Country Club in 1975, North Shore Tennis Club in 1974, and Milwaukee Country Club in 1972. Bronson also participated in the Wisconsin Tennis Association's inner-city tennis program from 1970-71. She received her certification as a professional instructor from Vic Braden's Tennis Academy in 1979.
In her playing career, Bronson claimed the 35-doubles consolation bracket at the Women's National Indoor Championships in 1990. In 1990, Bronson placed third in the same competition. She has consistently been ranked in the Western and Wisconsin State singles and doubles competition. In 1983, Bronson received a No. 2 Western Ranking in women's doubles and was ranked fifth in singles in the Western Region.
Bronson's husband, Walter is currently the head tennis professional at Le Club. They have three children, Corey, Lindsay and Tanner, and two granddaughters Samantha and Emma. The family resides in Glendale.
