LUBBOCK, Texas (June 3, 2021) – Lubbock Christian University director of athletics,
Scott Larson, has appointed
Jason Speegle as the head coach of Lubbock Christian's men's and women's tennis programs, which are slated to begin their inaugural season of NCAA play during the 2022-23 playing season.
"Jason was absolutely phenomenal throughout the interview process and I can't imagine hiring a better individual to restart the LCU tennis program," said Larson. "He will be an incredible fit for both LCU and the Lubbock community."
Speegle comes to Lubbock Christian after serving the past nine seasons at Southwestern College (Kan.). The Liberal, Kan. native led the Moundbuilders women's tennis program to seven KCAC tournaments, including a 2021 KCAC Tournament Championship title leading to their second NAIA National Championship tournament appearance under Speegle. Their first appearance under Speegle was in 2018, which was the same season they claimed the first of two (2019) KCAC regular season titles. The men's program made it to the KCAC Tournament Semifinals in 2021, marking their sixth tournament appearance. The men won the 2019 KCAC title, which was the program's first since 1970.
The KCAC named Speegle their Women's Tennis Coach of the Year in 2015, 2017 and 2019, also claiming Men's Tennis Coach of the Year accolades in 2019. The ITA named Speegle the Central Region Coach of the Year in 2017. The KCAC also recognized the Moundbuilders tennis programs with five combined Team of Character honors. The 2016-17 women's program registered a KCAC all-sports-best 3.8 team GPA. A combined 38 student-athletes (24 women and 14 men) were recognized with All-KCAC honors under Speegle's tenure at Southwestern.
"I am humbled and excited by the opportunity to join the Lubbock Christian family and to serve as LCU's first head tennis coach since 1982," said Speegle. "My goal is to build a competitive tennis program and a culture of academic excellence and commitment to faith that will help LCU fulfill its mission and make Lubbock proud. My family and I have already felt so welcome and we are eager to become active members of the Lubbock community."
Speegle was a tennis student-athlete at Southwestern from 1996-99, claiming All-KCAC and KCAC Scholar-Athlete honors in 1998-99. He graduated as valedictorian while earning a Bachelors of Arts degree in Physics with a minor in Business Administration in 1999. Speegle also received his Masters of Science in Leadership in 2008 at Southwestern.
Jason and his wife Amanda have two sons (Edwin and Isaac) and one daughter (Maggie). After graduating college, Jason conducted mission work for six years in the Dominican Republic before returning to Winfield, Kan. to serve as the director of Green Team of Southwestern College.
LCU tennis programs will compete in their first season of Lone Star Conference and NCAA competition in the fall semester of 2022. It will mark the university's first intercollegiate tennis competition since the 1981-82 school season, as LCU competed in the NAIA. LCU's tennis roots date back the to the early days of the university, which included a 1960 NJCAA Team National Championship and Singles National Champion (Dan Chrane). LCU's programs will compete at Penny Gullo Tennis Center, which will be completed on LCU's south end of campus.
