Women’s Tennis Coaching Staff

Debbie De Almeida, Head Coach

Debbie De Almeida will direct the 2005-06 Evangel University women’s tennis team. The 2004-05 Lady Crusaders were under the direction of player/coach Jenna Persons.

De Almeida is a 1997 Evangel graduate and received her master’s degree at Southwest Missouri State in 2005. Currently, De Almeida teaches social studies and Spanish at Hickory Hills Middle School in Springfield.

Evangel did not have a tennis team when De Almeida was a student at the university, however, she has been an active player for many years. De Almeida played in the National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) in Philadelphia, Pa., from the time she was seven through her senior year in high school. De Almeida’s team won several NJTL-sponsored tournaments and she played in all levels of the NJTL.

De Almeida played on her high school’s varsity team all four years. She was a member of the undefeated doubles combination in the city of Philadelphia and her team won the city championship. De Almeida played at No. 1 and No. 2 singles during her high school career.

In the early 1990s, De Almeida played at the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis Center, where she was coached by a Swedish Davis Cup coach. She played in numerous league matches and tournaments sponsored by the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis Center with players from across Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey.