Headlee adds tennis to coaching duties at Waynesburg University
Waynesburg University has added men’s and women’s tennis coach to wrestling coach Ron Headlee’s job title.
Headlee will continue his duties as wrestling coach and has had a successful eight-year run guiding that program.
“Coach Ron Headlee will add excitement and energy to our tennis programs at Waynesburg University,” said Waynesburg Director of Athletics Larry Marshall. “He has patience and, as with wrestling, will work with the players daily to improve their game. I know our tennis players will enjoy the experience and improve with Coach Headlee guiding them.”
Headlee has been active with tennis camps in Greene County over the past seven years through the Department of Parks and Recreation.
He has also been competing in USTA events, mostly as a doubles and mixed doubles competitor, for four years. He first started playing tennis while attending Messiah College in the mid-1980s.
“It’s definitely going to be challenging this year, but I always look forward to a challenge,” Headlee said. “Hopefully, as I continue to grow as a tennis coach and pick up some recruits, we can reach our goal of climbing up the PAC a little higher each year.”
Waynesburg also has named Jessica Bazzoli to the tennis coaching staff.
“(Bazzoli) also plays USTA and has helped me at some of my camps,” Headlee said. “We’ve played some mixed doubles together.”
Bazzoli played collegiately at Division-II Fairmont State, where she earned several nursing degrees in 1999 and 2001. She was also an all-conference softball player and cross country runner for the Falcons.
Bazzoli was a standout athlete at Ravenswood (West Virginia) High School, which she graduated from in 1994. She earned all-conference and all-state accolades as a softball player, and competed in volleyball and basketball.
Headlee and Bazzoli will have to make up on lost time with the lateness of their hiring.
Even so, Headlee hopes to have the same results in tennis that he’s had in wrestling where he’s taken a struggling team with small numbers to a nationally recognized program that has won four PAC titles and produced six All-Americans.
“Stepping in late this year is going to be a challenge,” Headlee said. “We need to add some depth. We are very interested in any young men or women on campus who would like to join us and learn more about the game.”
The Yellow Jackets open their season Sept. 1 against Saint Vincent.