- 2017 RMAC men’s regular season champions
- 2017 RMAC men’s Tournament champions
- 2017 RMAC women’s regular season champions
- 2017 RMAC women’s Tournament champions
Daniel Hangstefer is entering his fifth season as head coach of Roadrunners tennis in 2017-18.
The 2016-17 season was a very impressive for Hangstefer with both teams. The men went 10-7 overall in the spring while going 5-1 against RMAC opponents. This is the first regular season title for the men since 2009. The team also earned a regional ranking at number five.
The women went 11-5 in the spring with a perfect 6-0 in the RMAC. This is the first regular season title for the women since 2004. The Roadrunners were also ranked fifth in the NCAA regional rankings.
Both teams clinched the RMAC tournament championship title over Colorado Mesa University. The men's team defeated CMU 5-4 and the women came out victorious 5-3.
Between both teams, they won four major all-RMAC awards as well as having a total of 12 student-athletes named to the all-conference teams. Head coach Daniel Hangstefer was also name 2017 women's co-coach of the year.
Freshman Tabitha Porter (Norwich, England/Northcote College) was named 2017 RMAC player of the year. Freshman Valerie Valencia (Playas de Tijuana, Mexico/Bonita VIsta High School) was named co-freshman of the year. Junior Josh Graetz (Albury, Australia/The Scots School) was named 2017 RMAC player of the year and freshman Alejandro Martinez-Morilla (Madrid, Spain/I.E. Valdecas) was named RMAC freshman of the year. Hangstefer was also named Wilson/ITA women's regional coach of the year for the 2016-17 season.
In his third season, 2016-17, the men’s team finished 9-16, 2-2 in the RMAC overall and third in the RMAC tournament, losing to Colorado Mesa 5-3 in the semifinals. Women’s tennis finished 7-17, 2-2 in the RMAC standings and also finished third in the RMAC tournament, losing to Western New Mexico 5-4 in the semifinals.
Hangstefer received his first coach of the year honors in the 2015-16 season. He was named RMAC co-coach of the year for women’s tennis. Players from both men’s and women’s tennis earned All-RMAC honors. Six players from men’s tennis including standout freshman Joey Tscherne (Sylmer, Calif./John F. Kennedy H.S.) was named first team All-RMAC in singles and doubles. The women’s tennis team had four players earning RMAC honors. Emily Kerr (Winchester, England/Peter Symonds College) and Courtney Wright (Houston, Texas/Memorial H.S.) earned first team All-RMAC honors in both singles and doubles.
During his second season, he helped the men's team go 14-10 overall and reach the RMAC championship match at the conference tournament. The women's team finished third in the RMAC. The men's team was ranked as high as 46th in NCAA Division II and sophomore Josh Graetz finished the year ranked No. 44 in singles nationally after going 21-7 as the No. 1 player and earning first team all-RMAC. Hangstefer's men's squad earned wins over two nationally-ranked teams during the season. He also recruited and coach the men's and women's RMAC freshmen of the year in Calum Hayes and Courtney Wright.
In his first year, Hangstefer guided the men's team to a 12-11 record, including 3-2 in the RMAC. His women's team that featured five freshmen and battled several injuries, had a 4-20 record, including 0-5 in the RMAC. Hangstefer coached the RMAC men's and women's freshmen of the year as Josh Graetz took home the honors on the men's side and Wanda Holopainen did so for the women. Graetz finished the season ranked No. 49 in NCAA Division II and broke the school record for wins in a season and consecutive wins at No. 1 singles, going 24-7. Holopainen's sister Naomi, who missed most of the spring with an injury, won the Fall ITA South Central Region singles championship, advancing to the small college championships.
Hangstefer also led his teams to a strong year in the classroom. His women's team posted a 3.33 GPA during the spring semester and his men's team had a 3.10 GPA.
Prior to his time at MSU, Hangstefer spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he was named Intercollegiate Tennis Association South Central Region men’s assistant coach of the year in 2013. He helped the Mustangs win the Lone Star Conference, the regional tournament, and advance to the Elite Eight. On the women’s side, Midwestern State advanced to the Sweet Sixteen after also winning the regional title, helping both squads to a top-20 national ranking. In his three seasons, six of his student-athletes earned national academic awards.
As a student-athlete, Hangstefer played four years at NCAA Division I Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., playing No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles, while earning academic all-conference honors and serving as team captain. He earned his bachelor’s degree in oral communications with a Bible minor in 2010. He earned his master’s degree from Midwestern State in training and development in 2013.
Hangstefer's Men's Collegiate Head Coaching Record
| Year |
School |
Overall |
Conf. |
Postseason/Championships |
| 2014 |
MSU Denver |
12-11 |
3-2 |
|
| 2015 |
MSU Denver |
14-10 |
3-2 |
|
| 2016 |
MSU Denver |
9-16 |
2-2 |
|
| 2017 |
MSU Denver |
10-7 |
5-1 |
RMAC regular season champions
RMAC Tournament champions |
| 4 Year |
Totals |
45-44 |
13-7 |
|
Hangstefer's Women's Collegiate Head Coaching Record
| Year |
School |
Overall |
Conf. |
Postseason/Championships |
| 2014 |
MSU Denver |
4-20 |
0-5 |
|
| 2015 |
MSU Denver |
7-16 |
1-4 |
|
| 2016 |
MSU Denver |
7-17 |
2-2 |
|
| 2017 |
MSU Denver |
11-5 |
6-0 |
RMAC regular season champions
RMAC Tournament champions |
| 4 Year |
Totals |
29-58 |
9-11 |
|
