University of Wisconsin La Crosse Athletics

Bill Hehli is in his 31st year as head coach of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men’s and women’s tennis teams in 2025-26. 

Hehli was a standout player at UWL from 1991-94 before serving as the assistant coach in 1995.  During his playing career he received All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) honors a combined six times, qualified for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national tournament in 1991 and was a nationally ranked player at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III level in 1993-94.

Hehli was inducted into the UWL Wall of Fame in 2017.  

Going into the 2025-26 season, Hehli has compiled a career dual record of 830-376 (.688) at UWL, including 456-145 (.759) with the women's team and 374-231 (.618) with the men's squad.  He is the all-time wins leader in women's WIAC history. 

Hehli earned his 800th career win in UWL's 5-4 women's victory at UW-Whitewater on August 30, 2024. It marked the Eagles' first dual win over the Warhawks since 2006. UW-Whitewater had won 102 consecutive WIAC duals. 

He picked up his 700th career dual victory with a 9-0 win over UW-Stevens Point on October 12, 2019 in women's action. Hehli had his 600th career win in the women's 9-0 victory over Simpson College (Iowa) on April 10, 2016.  He picked up his 300th career win with the women's team with a 9-0 victory over The State University of New York-New Paltz on March 16, 2015 and his 300th career with the men's squad after a 8-1 win over The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) on February 24, 2018. 

In 30 seasons as the women’s coach, the Eagles have had a winning record every year, been ranked in the NCAA III Midwest Region the past 27 years, and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament Second Round in 2007.  UWL also advanced to the tournament second round and finished 18th in the nation in 2001.  Several players have been individually ranked in the Midwest and nationally during his tenure.  

The Eagles were 16-4 overall and 5-1 in the WIAC in 2024-25, placing second at the league championships and advancing to the conference automatically qualifying tournament for the NCAA Division III Championships. Shelby Roth (No. 2) and Hannah Cady (No. 6) each won WIAC singles titles while Lauren Lindow (No. 3), Maia Samuelson (No. 4) and Emma Heinert (No. 5) placed second. Tasha Bailey/Roth (No. 1), Cady/Samuelson (No. 2) and Heinert/Lindow (No. 3) each finished second in doubles. 

Hehli was named the 2024 WIAC Coach of the Year for the sixth time (2000, 2005, 2012, 2017, 2020, 2024) in his career.

UWL finished 17-5 overall and 4-2 in the WIAC in 2023-24, finishing third at the conference championships. Bailey (No. 1), Cady (No. 4) and Heinert (No. 6) finished second in singles at the 2023 WIAC Championships to earn second team all-conference laurels. Roth/Cady (No. 1) and Bailey/Lindow (No. 2) were second in doubles at the league tournament. All four earned All-WIAC Second Team honors. Lindow was named the 2023 WIAC Newcomer of the Year.

UWL went15-5 overall and 4-2 in the WIAC in 2022-23, placing fourth at the conference championships. Katie Kearney (No. 3), Kate Townsend (No. 5) and Heinert (No. 6) all placed second in singles at the league meet.  All three earned All-WIAC Second Team honors.

UWL went 15-4 overall and 4-2 in the WIAC in 2021-22 and placed second at the conference championships. Kimberly Steinert (No. 1), Bailey (No. 2) and Kaitlyn Kalinka (No. 6) all won league titles and named to the All-WIAC First Team. Kellie Hierl (No. 3) placed second with Bailey/Kalinka (No. 2) were also second in doubles. 

The Eagles finished 10-5 overall and 4-2 in the WIAC in 2020-21 while placing second at the league championships. Steinert (No. 1) was named to the 2021 All-WIAC First Team at No. 1 singles while Steinert and Hierl were selected to the all-conference first team at No. 1 doubles. Hierl was voted to the 2021 All-WIAC Second Team at No. 2 singles with Hannah Riegle and Kalinka selected to the all-conference second team. 

Steinert was named the 2020 and 2021 WIAC Player of the Year.  She became the second player in school history to earn a bid to the 2021 NCAA Division III Championships, competing in the singles held in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Steinert was one of 32 players to compete in the national championships. 

The Eagles finished 5-3 overall in 2019-20 and placed third at the WIAC Championships as Maura Andersen captured the No. 2 singles and Hierl the No. 3 singles titles. Steinert was second at No. 1 singles while Shira Busch (No. 4), Kalinka (No. 5) and Morgan Graf (No. 6) all finished third. Steinert/Hierl (No. 1), Andersen/Kalinka (No. 2) and Riegle/Lauren Witt (No. 3) all placed third in doubles at the 2019 league championships. UWL advanced to the WIAC Automatic Qualifying Team Tournament for the 13th straight year.

UWL finished 15-5 overall in 2018-19 and 17th in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Region. Andersen and Kalinka captured the No. 3 doubles crown at the 2018 WIAC Championships while Hayley Clope (No. 2), Sadie Spahn (No. 3), Andersen (No. 4), Alyssa Boyer (No. 5) and Busch (No. 6) each placed second in singles at the conference meet.  UWL won eight of its final nine matches of the season. 

The Eagles went 18-4 in 2017-18 while finishing 16th in the ITA Central Region.  Bridget Bellissimo was tied for 50th in the final 2017-18 ITA Singles Rankings for NCAA Division III while ranking 10th in the ITA Central Region. Bellissimo was named the 2017 WIAC Player of the Year, becoming the first player in UWL history to earn the honor. She captured the No. 1 singles title at the league championships and teamed with Spahn to place second at No. 1 doubles.
 
Selected the 2017 WIAC Judy Kruckman Women’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete, Bellissimo became the first player in school history to record 100 career victories in singles, compiling a 102-20 record. She finished with a 98-25 record in doubles while at UWL, resulting in 200 overall victories in her career.  

Along with Bellissimo (2017), Angie Riedel (2006), Kimmy Mrozek (2015) and Andersen (2019) have earned the WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete.

Bellissimo and Spahn were ranked ninth in the final 2017-18 ITA Central Region.  The duo placed second at the 2017 United States Tennis Association/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Midwest Regional Championships.
 
UWL finished 20-5 in 2016-17 while finishing 16th in the ITA Central Region rankings under Hehli.  The Eagles were 20-2 in 2015-16, recording a 19-match winning streak, while finishing 15th in the region.

UWL captured the 2003, 2005 and 2006 WIAC Women's Championship under Hehli.  

The Eagles set a single-season school record for dual wins in 2010-11 and 2011-12, finishing 21-5 each year.  

In 29 years with the men, Hehli has led the team to a 374-231 (.618) dual match record.  The team has been recognized with NCAA III Midwest regional rankings on numerous occasions.  Several players have been individually ranked nationally and in the Midwest under Hehli, and he has coached NCAA All-Americas.  

The Eagles were 15-5 overall and 1-2 in the WIAC in 2024-25, recording their most overall victories since going 15-7 in 2016-17. Tyler Schneider earned 2025 All-WIAC West Division First Team honors in singles while Alex Aranda and Nikko Vilwock were All-WIAC West Division First Team selections in doubles. Schneider was selected the West Division Newcomer of the Year.

UWL went 13-8 overall and 1-2 in the conference in 2023-24 as Cole Contardi earned All-West Division First Team accolades in singles. The Eagles earned their first conference dual win since 1995 with a 8-1 victory over UW-Stevens Point on April 10, 2024. Men's tennis returned to the WIAC after being discontinued in 1995. The conference held its first league championship in 1955. UWL has won six conference championships. 

UWL finished 21-3 in 2015, setting a single-season school record for victories.  The Eagles had an 18-match winning streak during the season while finishing 13th in the 2015 ITA Central Region rankings.  UWL finished 7-4 in 2019-20.
 
The Eagles recorded a then school record 18 victories in 2010 (18-6), 2011 (18-7) and 2013 (18-7).  The team finished 16-6 in 2014 and 15-7 in 2017.
 
The women’s team has earned the ITA All-Academic Team award in each of the last 19 seasons, with many players earning individual ITA Scholar-Athlete status.  The men’s team has earned the ITA All-Academic Team award in 14 of the last 19 years.  A total of nine members of the 2023-24 women's team were named ITA Scholar-Athletes while six members of the men's team earned the honor.
 
Hehli is a 1995 graduate of UWL.  He and his wife, Lisa, and children Jack and Kyle, reside in West Salem, Wisconsin.