Brett Barnett Named Head Women’s Tennis Coach

Former University of South Dakota head women’s tennis coach Brett Barnett has been named to the same position at Marquette University, Vice President and Director of Athletics Mike Broeker announced Wednesday morning.

“We’re excited to welcome Brett as the new head coach of Marquette women’s tennis,” Broeker said.  “Brett brings with him a proven track record of success, leading a competitive program at South Dakota, but just as importantly, he has a strong reputation for building meaningful, lasting relationships with his student-athletes.

“We welcome Brett, his wife Julie, and their daughters Mia and Annika to the Marquette community and the city of Milwaukee,” Broeker added.  “I also want to extend a sincere thank you to Jud Shaufler for his leadership throughout this search process. His support has been invaluable, and I look forward to his leadership of our men’s tennis program.”

Barnett is the sixth head coach in program history and takes over for Shaufler, who served as the director of tennis the last two seasons and oversaw both the men’s and women’s programs.  Shaufler will shift his focus to the men’s program moving forward for the Golden Eagles as the head coach.

“I am very excited to welcome Brett and his family to Marquette,” Shaufler said.  “I often preach to our student-athletes about wanting to put stabilizers out on the courts when we compete, players we can count on, and I see Brett as a very stabilizing influence on the women’s tennis program for many years to come.

“I look forward to collaborating with him to assist each other in the growth of both programs and at the end of the day, what we do is all about building relationships and I look forward to doing that with Brett,” Shaufler added.

Barnett arrives in Milwaukee after 11 seasons (2014-15 to 2024-25) leading the women’s program at South Dakota.  He led over 20 players to all-conference accolades, the team to a national ranking and made four trips to the Summit League Tournament finals during his tenure.  The program’s success off the court included an athletic department-high team grade-point-average, a CoSIDA Academic All-American (Habiba Aly, 2022) and multiple individual academic accolades.

“I am truly honored to be named the head coach at Marquette,” Barnett said.  “I want to extend my sincere thanks to Mike Broeker, Adrienne Ridgeway, Danielle Josetti, Jaime McGaver and Jud Schaufler for this incredible opportunity. From the moment I stepped onto campus, it was clear that Marquette is a special place — one where I immediately felt at home and I’m deeply grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received from everyone involved.

“I’m especially excited to connect with the student-athletes on the team and begin building strong relationships with each of them before they return to campus in August,” Barnett added.  “I look forward to helping them grow, not only on the court, but also as students and individuals. They’ll know that they have a coach who truly cares about them as individuals and is committed to their success in all aspects of life.  Marquette offers tremendous resources and outstanding tennis facilities that will allow both the men’s and women’s programs to thrive. I’m excited to work alongside Jud Schaufler — to collaborate, share ideas, and continue to elevate both programs together.”

Prior to USD, the Casper, Wyoming native worked with both the men’s and women’s programs at Purdue Fort Wayne (2011-14).  He was tabbed Summit League Coach of the Year with the men’s team in 2012 and 2014.  In his first season with the Mastodons, he led the team to its first winning season at the NCAA Division I level and a share of the Summit League regular-season title. He also coached three players to All-Summit League honors.

“I also want to thank the University of South Dakota for an incredible 11 years,” Barnett said.  “I’m so proud of what our teams accomplished during my time there, and I leave knowing the program is in a strong position for continued success. I’ve learned and grown so much, and I’m grateful to all the players who helped shape me into a better coach and person.

“Finally, I’d like to thank my wife, Julie, and our daughters, Annika and Mia, for their unwavering love and support,” Barnett added.  “They’re just as excited as I am and can’t wait to begin this new chapter in Milwaukee.  I’m ready to get to work, build something special, and represent Marquette with pride. Go Golden Eagles!”

Assisting with the women’s team at Purdue Fort Wayne, the Dons claimed the 2013 league tourney title and participated in the NCAA tournament.

In addition to coaching, Barnett is a USPTA P-1 Certified teaching professional and has worked at various tennis clubs around the United States.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Sioux Falls in 2016.

Barnett and his wife, Julie, have two daughters, Annika and Mia.

Keep up with the Marquette University women’s tennis program through social media by following on X (@MarquetteWTEN) and Instagram (@Marquettewten) and ‘liking’ on Facebook (MarquetteWTEN).

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.