QUINCY, Ill. – Quincy University named Brian Holzgrafe as the men’s and women’s tennis head coach, director of athletics Marty Bell announced day (Apr. 20).
Holzgrafe grew up in Quincy and calls the city his “hometown.” He brings playing, coaching, and teaching experience to QU.
“We are extremely pleased and fortunate to have Coach Holzgrafe lead our tennis programs,” coach Marty Bell said. “He brings a wealth of experience from both teaching and coaching and I look forward to a seamless transition as we move forward. He will provide outstanding leadership for our student athletes and will be a tremendous support for their QU experience. He will be a very nice addition to the QU Athletic Department family.”
“We would like to thank Coach Bell and Coach LaTour for bringing this opportunity to us. My family and I are looking forward to this venture with Quincy University,” Holzgrafe said. “Coach LaTour’s efforts of bringing excellent collegiate tennis to the community will remain our priority. We will use the decades of experience and connections to assure our student athletes here at Quincy University will encounter a very positive and productive atmosphere on the court and in the classroom”
Holzgrafe has been giving private lessons in Quincy for the past seven years. In 2007, Holzgrafe was an owner and teaching professional at St. Clair Tennis in O’Fallon, Ill. He has also been a teaching professional at Sunset Tennis Center and Shaw Park in St. Louis, Mo. The Clubs at River City in Peoria, Ill., Washington Park Tennis Center in Springfield, Ill., and Quincy Racquet Club. His experience in teaching spans over 22 years.
From 2001 to 2005, Holzgrafe was the men’s and women’s tennis head coach at Eastern Illinois University. In 2003, he coached the Men’s Player of the Year. In 2002, Holzgrafe was named the Ohio Valley Conference Head Coach of the Year. He also coached the Junior Davis Cup team during 2004 and 2005. During his tenure at EIU, he Holzgrafe coached over ten all-conference players and earned the EIU Highest GPA Award for Men’s and Women’s Teams each year.
Prior to his time at EIU, Holzgrafe was the men’s and women’s tennis assistant coach at Saint Louis University from 1999 to 2001.
Holzgrafe was also the head coach for boy’s and girl’s tennis at Sacred-Heart Griffin High School from 1998 to 1999.
Holzgrafe began his collegiate career with Northeast Missouri State University in 1990 and won the team Most Valuable Player Award. In 1991, Holzgrafe transferred to Jefferson College where he qualified for the National Tournament. He transferred to Western Illinois University in 1992.
Holzgrafe returned to the court with the University of Illinois Springfield from 1996 to 1998 as a player and assistant coach. Holzgrafe qualified for the National Tournament in both seasons with UIS.
Holzgrafe graduated from Illinois Springfield in 1998 with a bachelor of arts in business management and a minor in environmental studies.
