MOSCOW, Idaho— Daniel Hangstefer joins Idaho Athletics as the new head coach of the men's tennis program, becoming the fifth head coach in program history.
 
"With the strong tradition and success of Vandal Tennis, I am excited to announce the hiring of Daniel Hangstefer as our new Head Coach for the University of Idaho," said Idaho Interim Athletic Director Pete Isakson. "He is an up and coming head coach that brings experience in running a nationally ranked program; I look forward to watching our men's tennis program grow under his leadership!"
 
"I am extremely excited to begin work at the University of Idaho," Hangstefer said. I want to extend my gratitude to Pete Isakson and the search committee for placing their trust in me as their new Head Men's Tennis Coach. I know the men on the team are a very motivated group of individuals, and I believe there are great things to come."
 
Most recently, Hangstefer spent a season as the men's and women's tennis head coach with Ferris State University, a Division II university in Big Rapids, Mich. There, the Bulldogs saw success under the helm of Hangstefer as he coached and guided a nationally ranked men's program. He led the men's team to a 21-3 overall record and went undefeated during conference play. The men's squad captured the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) regular-season and tournament championship in the 2017-2018 season.
 
Both of Hangstefer's programs were named Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic as he mentored four ITA All-Academic men student-athletes and six women student-athletes.
 
Before Ferris State, Hangstefer spent four seasons as the head coach of Division II, Metropolitan State University of Denver (Colo.), where he was recognized as the 2017 ITA South Central Regional Coach of the Year and earned Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Women's Co-Coach of the Year recognition twice. Hangstefer led twice a nationally-ranked men's squad and mentored 15 ITA All-Academic players along with two ITA All-Academic Teams.
 
Under Hangstefer's watch both squads captured RMAC regular-season and tournament championships as well as earned top five regional rankings. Between both teams, the Roadrunners captured four major RMAC awards as well as having a total of 12 student-athletes named to the all-conference teams.
 
Prior to his time at Metro State, Hangstefer spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he was named the ITA South Central Region men's assistant coach of the year in 2013 and helped both nationally ranked programs advance to the NCAA national tournament.
 
During his time in Wichita Falls, he also served as a prep tennis coach at Christ Academy and was an assistant teaching pro at the Hamilton Park Tennis Center.
 
Hangstefer holds a bachelor's degree in oral communications with a Bible minor from Lipscomb University where he was an accomplished student-athlete. Formerly ranked #1 in the world in mixed doubles deaf tennis, Hangstefer competed in both the World Deaf Championships and the Deaflympics, winning both gold and silver medals.
 
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho soccer by following the team on Twitter and Instagram, @vandalstennis, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals Men's Tennis.
 
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