PEORIA, Ill. – After 12 seasons at the helm of Bradley Women's Tennis, Head Coach
Matt Tyler has announced he will be stepping away to pursue new professional opportunities.
"Last week, Matt approached me to share his decision to step away from the program," said Dr.
Chris Reynolds, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. "On behalf of Bradley University and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, I want to extend my deepest thanks to both Matt and
Steve Tyler for their years of commitment to our tennis program. Together, they have served as mentors and helped to develop our student-athletes—on the court, in the classroom, and in life."
Appointed in the fall of 2013, Tyler reshaped the Braves into a respected program within the Missouri Valley Conference and leaves as the winningest coach in program history, with 104 career dual match victories. His vision, leadership, and commitment to student-athlete success have left a lasting mark on Bradley Athletics.
"I have truly enjoyed my time on the Hilltop,: said Tyler. "I'm so thankful for the relationships with my student-athletes and all that we were able to accomplish together. It has been an honor to work with such dedicated and talented young women. I want to thank them for all of the hard work and dedication to the Bradley Women's Tennis program."
Under Tyler's guidance, Bradley posted its best season in 2018–19 with a 16-8 record and finished second in the conference standings with a 4-1 MVC mark. That season also earned the Braves their highest-ever seed in the MVC Tournament (#3). He coached all 17 of Bradley's All-Conference selections (15 singles, two doubles), developed multiple MVC Freshman of the Year honorees, and mentored eight of the top 10 players in program history in combined victories.
Tyler also championed academic and personal development. Under his leadership, Braves student-athletes earned 14 First-Team All-Conference Scholar-Athlete awards and a long list of individual honors, including Academic All-America recognition and national awards for sportsmanship and leadership. His student-athletes not only broke records on the court but also set standards in the classroom and community.
Most recently,
Mariia Pukhina and
Ruby Tseng were named 2025 First-Team All-MVC selections for their season-long performance while
Anna Belogliadova was named to the 2025 All-MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team.
One key figure who stood alongside Matt throughout much of this journey was his father,
Steve Tyler, who served as Bradley Tennis' volunteer assistant coach for the past 11 seasons. A former head coach at Central College with nearly four decades of coaching and playing experience, Steve brought wisdom, passion, and unwavering support to the Bradley Tennis family. A University of Iowa graduate and USPTA-certified professional, Steve played a vital role in the development of Bradley's student-athletes and the broader culture of the program. The department extends its deepest gratitude to Steve for his years of service and loyalty to the Braves.
"Coaching with my dad for the past decade has been amazing," Tyler added. He brought so much knowledge of the sport and life to the program. I will miss our time together on the Bradley courts, but I know that there is a lot of tennis together in our future. I want to thank him for his passion for the sport, professionalism, and commitment to our student-athletes."
Their contributions extended far beyond wins and records—they helped build a foundation that will shape the program for years to come.
Tyler spent 16 years as a collegiate tennis head coach, spending four seasons at the helm of Division-III Wartburg College prior to his 12-year tenure at Bradley. Tyler also spent time coaching at Colgate University and competed professionally following a standout collegiate career.
Bradley University will conduct a national search for the next leader of its Women's Tennis program.
