OWENSBORO, Ky. – Joe Epkey has been named the Head Women's Tennis Coach at Kentucky Wesleyan College.
"I am very grateful for the opportunity to lead the women's tennis program at KWC," Epkey said. "I look forward to building a championship culture on and off the court, while giving each student-athlete the best experience they can have."
"I want to thank [Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics] Jason Vittone, [Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance, Student Services, and Sport Administration] Kathryn Bzdafka, and all the staff I met through the process," Epkey continued. "Everyone was very kind and made it feel like home. I look forward to continuing my career as a Panther!"
Epkey, a former MAC Player of the Year and MAC Tournament MVP at Ball State, originally hails from Indiana, where he became a High School State Doubles Champion in 1999. He played for the Division I Cardinals with his two brothers, Tony and Jarrod, and the trio played an integral part in a conference championship and top 50 ranking in 2006.
During his time at Ball State, Epkey ranked as high as 24th in the ITA doubles rankings and as high as the top 100 in the ITA singles rankings. Prior to BSU, he played two seasons at the University of Southern Indiana, where he was named GLVC Player of the Year and GLVC Freshman of the Year while also finishing as the ITA Small College Championships Division II National Singles runner-up. Additionally, Epkey finished fifth in the country in doubles alongside his brother, Jarrod.
After traveling and playing in professional tournaments post-graduation, Epkey officially began his journey in coaching at Jeffersonville High School in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He also spent time as an assistant at Bellarmine University before earning his first head coaching role at Indiana University Southeast, where he led the men's program to two KIAC Conference Tournament Championships and the women's program to a KIAC Regular Season Championship. Epkey was named the KIAC Women's Coach of the Year in 2015.
After eight years at IU Southeast, Epkey joined Oakland City University as their Head Women's Tennis Coach and a Men's Assistant Coach from 2022-25. He was then additionally named the Head Men's Tennis Coach for the 2026 season, in which the team earned a NAIA National ranking of No. 13 overall. In total, Epkey led the men's program to five consecutive RSC Championships (2022-26) and led the women's program to four consecutive RSC Championships (2023-26) while also being named the RSC Women's Coach of the Year in 2024.
Epkey, a Ball State University graduate, obtained his Bachelor of General Studies in 2007 and has been a Certified Tennis Professional with the Professional Tennis Registry since 2009.
"We are excited to welcome Joe Epkey to KWC as our new Head Women's Tennis Coach," Vittone said. "Joe has a proven track record of developing student-athletes and building successful programs. I believe he is the right person to lead our women's tennis program into this exciting new chapter."
"As we transition to separate head coaches for our men's and women's programs, this investment reflects our commitment to enhancing the student-athlete experience and providing each program with the leadership and attention it deserves," Vittone continued. "We look forward to seeing Joe make a lasting impact on our student-athletes and our campus community."
Joe, his wife, Maggie, and their three children, Conner, Logan, and Peyton, are excited to join the Kentucky Wesleyan family.
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