Former Latrobe state champ takes on head coaching job in NCAA Division I tennis

From a high school and college star to a 10-year professional and now a budding college coach, Joelle Kissell has experienced success at just about every level of tennis.

The Latrobe graduate and Hostetter native is about to embark on her newest venture.

Kissell is taking her knowledge of the game to the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference. She recently was named head coach of the women’s tennis team at Western Michigan.

While she has a number of coaching stops, Kissell most recently was an assistant at Wichita State. She served as an assistant at West Virginia in 2021-22 and was on staff at Seton Hill from 2018-21.

She spent one season as an assistant at Western Carolina (2014-15).

“We are thrilled to be bringing in such an accomplished tennis professional as Joelle to lead our women’s tennis program,” Western Michigan athletics director Dan Bartholomae said in a news release. “She is well respected throughout the industry and is considered a rising star as a collegiate coach.”

Kissell won PIAA 3A singles championship as a senior at Latrobe in 2009 and also was a WPIAL and state doubles champion as a freshman with Ali Seranko.

Her resume also includes a WPIAL singles title.

In a decorated four-year career at N.C. State, Kissell totaled 107 combined wins — a former school record — and became the first All-ACC player in program history.

A five-star prospect coming out of Latrobe, she qualified for the NCAA singles championships twice.

Kissell stretched out her playing career before joining the coaching ranks, competing from 2012-22 on the ITF Pro Circuit while reaching the 781st spot in the rankings.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be joining Western Michigan,” Kissell said. “Throughout the interview process, it was clear that Western Michigan is a special place with exceptional talent, and I am honored to be a part of the Bronco family. I am forever grateful to everyone who has helped and guided me along the way. I can’t wait to work with the student-athletes as we embrace championship culture and look to add to the legacy of excellence.”

Added Baylor coach Michael Woodson: “The Broncos have landed an up-and-coming star in college coaching. As a player and now coach, Joelle has used veracious energy and relentless competitiveness to raise the level of her peers, her student-athletes and herself to reach their full potential.”

Her peers expect big things.

“She has grown through the years of coaching and is ready to lead her own program,” West Virginia coach Miha Lisac said. “I see this hire as an absolute home run.”

Wichita State coach Colin Foster said Kissell is about to “take off.”

“Joelle checks all the boxes,” Foster said. “She works hard in every aspect of the profession, and I’m excited to watch her make an immediate and impactful difference in the games and lives of her new team.”