beverly
buckley
HEAD WOMEN'S
TENNIS COACH
 The
name Bev Buckley has been synonymous with success as both a player
and now as a coach for the Rollins College women’s tennis program.
In the 1970’s she was a standout player as a member of the Tars,
and now Buckley is involved in her 20th season as the head coach of
the women’s tennis program.
Since taking over the reigns of the women’s program in 1986,
Buckley has posted a 287-178 dual match record against tough competition.
The team competed at the Division I level prior to the 1993-94 campaign
and held it’s own against many of the country’s top programs.
Since moving to Division II the Tars have proven themselves to be
legitimate contenders for the national title. Last season the Tars
posted an 18-6 record and finished 10th in the NCAA Division II national
standings. As the #3 seed, The Tars finished third last season in
the Sunshine State Conference tournament as they beat the #4 seed,
Florida Southern. The Tars’ success carried over to the individual
level as well. Sophomore, Tasi Purcell was named to the All-SSC first
team in singles. Purcell teamed up with freshman sensation Marnie
Mahler to earn a spot on the All-SSC first team in doubles as well.
Nationally, Purcell finished the season ranked #20 and Mahler finished
ranked #29. As a doubles tandem, Mahler and Purcell ranked #6 in the
nation at the end of last season.
A 1975 Rollins graduate, Buckley was a standout performer for the
Tars and is a member of the Rollins College Athletic Hall of Fame.
While competing at Rollins, she won two Florida state collegiate doubles
titles and one state singles title. She was selected to the U.S. Junior
Wightman Cup Squad in 1973 and was named an Outstanding College Athlete
of America in 1974 and 1975.
Following her graduation, she spent five years on the women’s
professional tour and participated in major events such as Wimbledon,
the U.S. Open and the French Open. Prior to joining the Rollins staff,
she coached five seasons at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California,
and served as tennis director and head teaching professional at Wakonda
Club in Des Moines, Iowa. Originally from Iowa, Buckley was inducted
into the Iowa Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Missouri Valley
Section Hall of Fame in 1993.
Still competitive on the playing circuit, Buckley won her division
in the USTA National Team Doubles Intersectional Championships in
1993. She was also a finalist in the mixed doubles event at the 1998
ITA National Coaches Convention and runner-up at the National 30 Claycourt
Championships in 1995. In 2003, Buckley reached the doubles finals
of the Les Grandes Dames Spring Classic in her age division.
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