Longtime Behrend Tennis Coach Calls It a Career
Penn State Behrend men’s and women’s tennis head coach Jeff Barger – the all-time winningest coach for both programs – announced his retirement.
ERIE, Pa. – Penn State Behrend men's and women's tennis head coach Jeff Barger – the all-time winningest coach for both programs – announced his retirement.
In his coaching tenure, he has won a combined 22 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championships and was named Coach of the Year 17 times. Barger led the women's tennis team to 14 conference titles, including the most recent title in 2020. The team won seven straight championships from 2004-11. Barger boasts a 271-163 overall record, including 10 undefeated seasons in conference play for a 139-34 AMCC record.
On the men's side, Barger led the Lions to eight AMCC titles including the last one in 2023. His record as men's coach stands at 236-237, and 118-38 in the conference over 25 seasons.
Barger missed the AMCC Tournament only once as a head coach for both programs and advanced to the NCAA Tournament seven times.
Dating back to 1998, Barger has coached 356 AMCC All-Conference players (162 Men/194Women); this includes 192 First Team selections, 164 Second Team selections, 23 Player of the Year honorees and 15 Newcomer of the Year honorees.
Assistant coach Noah Colvin, former tennis player under Barger, will serve as interim men's head coach for the spring season.