Women's Tennis
Schram, Steve
Steve Schram
- Title:
- Women's Tennis Head Coach
- Email:
- Stephen.Schram@usm.edu
Steve Schram was introduced as the new women's tennis head coach on Aug. 15, 2018, and the program has realized numerous successes in his tenure with a 31-9 record his first three years.
The 2021 squad went 8-3 overall, including a 3-1 C-USA record in the regular season. It marked the program's most league wins since 2013. Katia de la Garza (second-team singles, doubles) and freshman Suhana Das (second-team doubles) earned All-Conference recognition, marking Southern Miss' first instance with multiple honorees since 2017. De la Garza finished her career 15-2 in doubles over her final two years, both with freshmen partners. Sarah Medik also earned All-Academic accolades from the league. Southern Miss also defeated NCAA regular and perennial Sun Belt favorite South Alabama for the first time in school history.
The 2020 team raced to an 11-1 start before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the season, and it would have been the team's best record in program history. Medik was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team, and four Golden Eagles were named ITA Scholar-Athletes while the team earned an award for a 3.389 GPA. Ebru Zeynep Yazgan also earned Player of the Week honors during the year. Tjasa Jerse was also a C-USA Academic honoree during the 2019 season.
Schram was previously an assistant coach at Barry, hired in August 2016, and over the course of his tenure was responsible for on-court coaching, player development, recruiting and administrative duties.
"I would like to thank Southern Miss for this tremendous opportunity to become the next head tennis coach," Schram said. "This is an opportunity that I've worked hard for and I'm humbled to take over the helm of the women's tennis program. I look forward to working with the student-athletes and continue to elevate the program in all aspects."
In 2018, Schram helped coach Barry to its second straight NCAA Division II national championship after claiming the South Region, Sunshine State Conference Tournament and regular season titles. The Buccaneers went 28-0 to extend their winning streak to 58 consecutive matches. Barry beat West Florida, 5-0, in Surprise, Ariz., to capture the national title. Sonja Larsen and Verena Schmid earned All-American honors and finished the season as the top-ranked doubles team.
Schram was named the 2018 NCAA Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year, in addition to taking home the South Region Assistant Coach of the Year honor for the second straight season.
In his first season with the Buccaneers, Schram helped coach Barry to a 30-0 record and the national championship, defeating Lynn 5-0. The women's tennis team became the first at the school to win 30-plus matches and go unbeaten for the national title, after the men went 29-0 and earned a ring in 2013. Schram coached four All-Americans in 2016-17, including Ana Pain, Sonja Larsen, Zuza Maciejewska and Dasha Salnikova.
Schram spent three years as Nova Southeastern University's head coach. He guided the Sharks to a 46-19 record in three seasons. He coached three All-Americans, 12 Scholar All-Americans and nine All-SSC selections. In 2016, Schram's team won 15 straight matches, which included seven wins over Top 25-ranked teams. The Sharks were ranked as high as No. 4 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll. They finished the 2016 season ranked No. 8 after a 15-5 season.
Prior to Nova Southeastern, Schram served two years as head coach at Limestone, guiding a team that had only three wins in the year before his arrival to 30 wins in his two seasons at the helm.
Schram also had coaching stops at Radford, Wofford and Bucknell. As a player, Schram spent his freshman year at the University of Charleston before finishing his career at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Schram earned his bachelor's degree in political science from FGCU in 2006 and earned a masters of education degree in transformation leadership from Aspen University in 2012.
The 2021 squad went 8-3 overall, including a 3-1 C-USA record in the regular season. It marked the program's most league wins since 2013. Katia de la Garza (second-team singles, doubles) and freshman Suhana Das (second-team doubles) earned All-Conference recognition, marking Southern Miss' first instance with multiple honorees since 2017. De la Garza finished her career 15-2 in doubles over her final two years, both with freshmen partners. Sarah Medik also earned All-Academic accolades from the league. Southern Miss also defeated NCAA regular and perennial Sun Belt favorite South Alabama for the first time in school history.
The 2020 team raced to an 11-1 start before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the season, and it would have been the team's best record in program history. Medik was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team, and four Golden Eagles were named ITA Scholar-Athletes while the team earned an award for a 3.389 GPA. Ebru Zeynep Yazgan also earned Player of the Week honors during the year. Tjasa Jerse was also a C-USA Academic honoree during the 2019 season.
Schram was previously an assistant coach at Barry, hired in August 2016, and over the course of his tenure was responsible for on-court coaching, player development, recruiting and administrative duties.
"I would like to thank Southern Miss for this tremendous opportunity to become the next head tennis coach," Schram said. "This is an opportunity that I've worked hard for and I'm humbled to take over the helm of the women's tennis program. I look forward to working with the student-athletes and continue to elevate the program in all aspects."
In 2018, Schram helped coach Barry to its second straight NCAA Division II national championship after claiming the South Region, Sunshine State Conference Tournament and regular season titles. The Buccaneers went 28-0 to extend their winning streak to 58 consecutive matches. Barry beat West Florida, 5-0, in Surprise, Ariz., to capture the national title. Sonja Larsen and Verena Schmid earned All-American honors and finished the season as the top-ranked doubles team.
Schram was named the 2018 NCAA Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year, in addition to taking home the South Region Assistant Coach of the Year honor for the second straight season.
In his first season with the Buccaneers, Schram helped coach Barry to a 30-0 record and the national championship, defeating Lynn 5-0. The women's tennis team became the first at the school to win 30-plus matches and go unbeaten for the national title, after the men went 29-0 and earned a ring in 2013. Schram coached four All-Americans in 2016-17, including Ana Pain, Sonja Larsen, Zuza Maciejewska and Dasha Salnikova.
Schram spent three years as Nova Southeastern University's head coach. He guided the Sharks to a 46-19 record in three seasons. He coached three All-Americans, 12 Scholar All-Americans and nine All-SSC selections. In 2016, Schram's team won 15 straight matches, which included seven wins over Top 25-ranked teams. The Sharks were ranked as high as No. 4 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll. They finished the 2016 season ranked No. 8 after a 15-5 season.
Prior to Nova Southeastern, Schram served two years as head coach at Limestone, guiding a team that had only three wins in the year before his arrival to 30 wins in his two seasons at the helm.
Schram also had coaching stops at Radford, Wofford and Bucknell. As a player, Schram spent his freshman year at the University of Charleston before finishing his career at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Schram earned his bachelor's degree in political science from FGCU in 2006 and earned a masters of education degree in transformation leadership from Aspen University in 2012.
| Schram's Stops |
| School | Years | Role |
| Wofford | 2006-07 | Assistant (M&W) |
| Radford | 2007-08 | Assistant (W) |
| Bucknell | 2008-11 | Assistant (M&W) |
| Limestone | 2011-13 | Head (M&W) |
| Nova Southeastern | 2013-16 | Head (W) |
| Barry | 2016-18 | Assistant (W) |
| Southern Miss | 2018-Present | Head (W) |
| Schram's Year-By-Year Record |
| Limestone | 2012-2013 |
| 2012 | 14-18 |
| 2013 | 16-8 |
| Nova Southeastern | 2014-2016 |
| 2014 | 13-11 |
| 2015 | 18-3 |
| 2016 | 15-5 |
| Southern Miss | 2019-Present |
| 2019 | 12-5 |
| 2020 | 11-1 |
| 2021 | 8-3 |
| TOTAL | 107-44 |
| Accolades |
- Led Limestone to 13-win improvement in first year after team won one match previous season
- 2015 ITA South Region Coach of the Year
- 2017 and 2018 Division II National Champions
- 2017 and 2018 ITA South Regional and Sunshine State Conference title
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Sunday, September 14
Charles Huff Weekly Press Conference - The App State Game
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