Women’s tennis welcomes new head coach Tyson Thomas blends psychology with coaching

By ELEANOR SHAW The Breeze

With a background in psychology, a love of the state of Virginia and a passion for tennis, Tyson Thomas is gearing up to make a racket as the new JMU women’s tennis head coach.

Joined by assistant coach Grace Hashiguchi, Thomas debuted as JMU’s sixth women’s tennis coach in school history on July 6, while Hashiguchi’s position was announced July 28.

Thomas succeeds Shelley Jaudon after she resigned in May. Jaudon left JMU to pursue the same position at Kentucky. During her time with the Dukes, Jaudon led the team during its first Sun Belt Championship where they lost to ODU 4-0, as well as the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship in 2019 and 2021.

Thomas said the team’s been competing at high levels “the right way” — something he said excites him.

During the summer, Thomas said he began to build a relationship with his team through Zoom, individual calls and texting.

“Really, the heart of the matter is getting to know the people involved,” Thomas said. “So that's the main focus of the summer, and it will continue to be going into the fall.”

Thomas praised Hashiguchi’s commitment, during this process of team building — he emphasized his confidence in Hashiguchi’s ability to help realize his vision for JMU’s women’s tennis team. This vision includes his own approach to tennis: integrating psychology to help players achieve “a sense of freedom when they're competing.”

Thomas said this involves helping athletes manage “their inner voice” while they’re under pressure to compete — a pressure that’s elevated when tennis players compete by themselves in singles. Thomas said he plans to elevate the program with this approach, attracting eager and committed players with a “strong-growth mindset.”

These goals’ roots are planted in his time playing tennis and studying psychology at, Nebraska-Kearney University from 2001-05.

“While I was simply intrigued with … all areas of psychology in college and studying all different aspects, to being able to combine that with my love for tennis was just this perfect fit,” Thomas said. “I consider myself incredibly lucky to be able to be … not only just a tennis coach but a college tennis coach and help players grow all in all.”

When reflecting on his time at Nebraska-Kearney, Thomas recalled getting into the sport late but undergoing an “exciting transformation” alongside his peers with the Lopers.

That excitement initiated improvement, Thomas said, and the team attracted other strong recruits. During his time at Nebraska-Kearney, Thomas watched and helped “one of the worst teams in conference” win the conference during his last two years.

“Seeing that evolution of a team growing together really … planted the seed for me to become a coach down the road,” Thomas said.

After graduating from Nebraska-Kearney in 2005 with his bachelor’s degree in comprehensive psychology, Thomas worked as an assistant coach for women’s and men’s tennis at the University of Nebraska at Omaha from 2013-14 — then became the men’s head coach at the same university until 2019.

Afterward, Thomas volunteered as U.Va.’s assistant women’s tennis coach from 2019-22, then moved to Philadelphia to be the assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania. While at U.Va., Thomas said he fell for Virginia’s natural beauty and appreciated the proximity to his extended family in Charlottesville.

During his stint at Penn, Thomas felt “an itch” to return to coaching. His wish was fulfilled by St. Joseph’s University's offer to be its women’s tennis head coach. Shortly after he accepted the position, Tyson said, JMU’s job became available, and he decided to do what his family needed.

“All things considered with JMU and what they're capable of doing and coming back to Virginia, it was just really an opportunity we couldn't pass up,” Thomas said.

After accepting JMU’s offer, Thomas faced a difficult task: making the interstate move with his wife and two children — a transition Thomas said was eased by JMU’s “accommodating” and “empowering” athletics department.

Thomas said he was especially impressed by the department’s emphasis on work-life balance — something he credits with helping him become a better, more successful coach.

“It’s just an incredible fit for us,” Thomas said. “To be able to bring our family back to Virginia, to be near family and to be in an environment that we love … all of that comes together and makes everything very fulfilling and very exciting.”