Featured photo taken by Alan Woodard
By Connor Ballou
Peace has just hired Donolique Tyrell as the head coach for the men’s and women’s tennis programs.
Tyrell graduated from Peace in 2023 and was a member of the men’s basketball team and the men’s tennis team. Before being hired as a coach, he was working in the admissions department at Peace.
Tyrell expressed his enthusiasm about beginning to build the tennis program back up.
“What excites me the most about this new coaching opportunity is how invested the players and families already are,” said Tyrell. “I’m a big culture guy, so when I have some players and parents reaching out and expressing their excitement, I know it’s going to be a productive and fun season for us.”
Tyrell has high expectations for the future of the program and highlights his current thoughts regarding this upcoming season.
“I am treating this upcoming season as the baseline for the program,” said Tyrell. “We are looking to compete to the best of our abilities, improve both on and off the court, and do these things with joy.”
In addition to reviving the men’s tennis team, he also aims to revive the women’s team.
“After this season, we will reflect and seek improvements for future seasons to come,” said Tyrell. “In the long term, I will try my very hardest to recruit and bring back a women’s tennis team at Peace.”
Tyrell isn’t just recruiting any athlete; he’s recruiting quality student-athletes.
“As a new coach, I’m looking for students who are eager to grow with me,” said Tyrell. “I’m also looking for student athletes who bring motivation, effort, and a positive mindset both on and off the court.”
With expectations high and goals set, Tyrell mentioned, “If you are interested in playing tennis at Peace, feel free to reach out.”
Athletic Director Claude Shields is excited about the next chapter with the hire of Tyrell and spoke about why he was the right fit.
“We needed someone with firsthand experience of being a student-athlete at Peace to be able to revive our tennis program,” said Shields. “He knows what it takes to succeed here.”
Being an alumnus of the men’s basketball team, Tyrell has had the experience of a student-athlete and knows what to expect.
“We want him to bring in student-athletes that are looking to reach their full potential on the court and in the classroom,” said Shields. “We certainly think there is a solid foundation on the men’s side for him to build on.”
On the other side of the program, Shields said, “For the women, we have our work cut out for us, but Lique is a phenomenal recruiter.”
Tyrell will look to jumpstart his tenure as head coach of the tennis program starting in the spring of 2026.