Lenoir-Rhyne Names Bobby McKee As Director Of Tennis

Hickory, N.C. - Bobby McKee, two-time National Coach of the Year and nine-time South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year, has been named tennis director at Lenoir-Rhyne College, effective June 1.

McKee, 50, comes to L-R from Presbyterian College of Clinton, S.C., where he has served as a tennis coach since 1981.

"Lenoir-Rhyne is indeed fortunate to have attracted one of the great tennis coaches in America," said Neill McGeachy, Lenoir-Rhyne's athletic director, in announcing the appointment. "Under Coach McKee's tutelage, Presbyterian College has become the gold standard for the SAC and the NCAA Division II."

In addition to serving as tennis director, McKee will serve as head coach for both the men's and women's tennis teams.

Both men's and women's tennis were discontinued following the 1998 season. Women's tennis returned to L-R in 2005. Men's tennis will return next year. McKee is taking over the job of coaching the L-R women's tennis team from Todd Starkey, who served as head coach from 2005 to 2007.

McKee said: "It is with a great deal of excitement and thankfulness that I accept the position of director of tennis at Lenoir-Rhyne College. In my research and subsequent visit to Lenoir-Rhyne, I found the leadership at all levels to be very supportive of the overall mission of the college. At every level, I found a firm commitment to all student athletes to provide an environment in which they may excel academically and athletically."

He is a 1980 graduate of Presbyterian College, where he was an All American tennis player. He coached the men's tennis team at PC from 1984 to 2000 and has a 16-year record of 233-129 (.644). During his tenure, the Blue Hose men's tennis program posted winning records in 13 of 16 seasons. He was named SAC Men's Coach of the Year four times (1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999).

"I am very disappointed to have to accept Coach McKee's resignation," said PC Director of Athletics Dr. William "Bee" Carlton. "Coach McKee is the most experienced coach and one of the most successful coaches on our staff.

"On the other hand, I am happy that he is able to pursue an opportunity that he believes is best for him and his family. Coach McKee has always given his best to PC and our men's and women's tennis programs and has produced outstanding results for the college throughout his career. I am fully confident that he will be able to produce similar results for Lenoir-Rhyne."

He is currently in his eighth consecutive season as head coach of the women's tennis program. He previously coached the women's team from 1981 to 1985. He has a 13-year record coaching women's tennis of 206-73 (.738). He has been named the SAC Women's Tennis Coach of the Year five times (2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006).

McKee was named NAIA National Men's Tennis Coach of the Year in 1987 and was named ITA/Wilson National Men's Tennis Coach of the Year in 1992.

He has served as a member of the NCAA Men's and Women's National Tournament Committee and the NAIA Men's National Tournament Committee. He also served as national chair of the ITA/NAIA National Ranking Committee and chair of the ITA/NCAA Southeast Region Committee.

McKee's teams have been ranked in the top 25 nationally for 21 of his 26 years as coach. They have participated in the NAIA and NCAA National Championships for 22 years, including 12 straight NCAA postseason appearances. Nine of his women's players and 10 of his men's players have attained All American status.

He and his wife, the former Janet Stoddard, have two children, Erin, 12, and Caitlin, 10.

Established in 1891, Lenoir-Rhyne College is a private, coeducational college located in Hickory, N.C. It is affiliated with the N.C. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is open to students from all religious backgrounds. Undergraduate degrees include bachelor of arts, bachelor of science and bachelor of music education in more than 60 majors and concentrations. Graduate degrees are offered in education, business administration, counselor education and occupational therapy. The Lenoir-Rhyne College athletic Web site is at www.lrbears.com. The college's Web site is www.lrc.edu.