Fangyuan Li is the Assistant Coach for the Idaho Women’s Tennis Team, bringing a background in collegiate athletics, coaching, and exercise science. Prior to this role, he served two seasons as the assistant coach for the men's team (2022–2024). With over a decade of coaching experience across collegiate, professional, and youth levels, Li focuses on individualized technical, tactical, and mental training to help athletes perform at a high level.
Li began his tennis journey at age 7 and was recruited to the Jinan Youth Tennis Team in Shandong Province by age 10. He won the U14 division at the Jinan Youth Tennis Championships and led Ji Gang High School to a Shandong Provincial Championship. As a collegiate athlete at South China University of Technology, he helped his team earn third place at the 19th National College Tennis Championships.
As a coach, Li has helped athletes succeed at the provincial and national levels in China, including leading the Jinan Women’s Tennis Team to a U16 championship at the 25th Shandong Provincial Competition. At Idaho, he has contributed to recruiting efforts, including helping sign top prospect Chenyue Xu for the 2024 roster. His coaching philosophy emphasizes holistic development, combining physical preparation with mental skills training, goal setting, and resilience.
Li is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Adult, Organizational Learning & Leadership at the University of Idaho, where he is mentored by Dr. Sharon Kay Stoll at the Center for Ethics. He also holds two master’s degrees—from the University of Idaho—in Movement and Leisure Science, and Adult and Organizational Learning. He is an ACSM-CASM credentialed Exercise Physiologist (CHN2000076), and his work outside of coaching includes teaching sports psychology, serving as a health coach, and translating academic articles for the American College of Sports Medicine.
