In her first year as Missouri women’s tennis coach, Sasha Schmid has already made quite the impression on her players.
Schmid comes to Missouri after 10 seasons of coaching at Stetson University where she posted a record of 132-101 and coached 20 All-Alantic Sun Conference performers. Schmid had the best record of her career in 2011, when the team went 17-6. At Iowa, Schmid was a four-year letter and the most valuable player her senior year.
Although it’s early in the season, Schmid seems to fit in nicely with the players and environment at MU.
“I love her as a coach,” senior Nina Pantic said. “She has incredibly high energy. She’s positive, always excited, and a really good person to be around.”
Through only seven matches, Schmid has already developed deep connections with her players.
“She knows how to relate to each one of us in our own way,” senior Jamie Mera said. “She just makes us want to play tennis. We want to win for her.”
Schmid said she believes it is imperative to be supportive of players in order for a program to be successful.
“I want to make the players feel good about themselves and become winners, ” Schmid said.
She traces that attitude back to Jenny Mainz, Schmid’s coach during her time at Iowa and current coach at Alabama.
“Her spirit, love of coaching and positive mentoring really made an impact on my life,” Schmid said.
But Schmid also has another side that her players appreciate.
“While she’s relatable and really nice, she does know when to be strict,” Pantic said. “If we become a little unfocused, she can get people on track to do what they need to be doing.”
It’s not solely her personality that makes her a favorite with players, but her knowledge of the game from a technical standpoint as well, Mera said.
“She’s a great tennis coach,” Mera said. “She studies each player’s game and meets with us individually to make improvements.”
Schmid is trying to develop a culture in which her players are constantly working, and always trying to get better.
Even after a 6-1 victory over Illinois State on Friday, in which the only loss the Tigers suffered was due to junior Maria Christensen being forced to retire due to injury, the first words Schmid uttered centered on what her players need to improve upon.
Schmid is hoping the mentality turns the Tigers into a top program.
“By staying in the process and continually getting better, we are hoping to get this program in the top 40 of the national rankings,” she said.
Time will tell if the Tigers can meet their coach’s goals. Still, the Tiger players have certainly responded to the supportive and relatable Schmid.
“I just feel like I have improved so much since she’s been here,” Mera said.