Story courtesy of Eastern Michigan's Athletic Communications Department

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Veteran coach and nationally respected program builder Jeff Westmeyer, who guided the University of Findlay women's tennis program to unprecedented success and its first NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance, has been named Head Tennis Coach at Eastern Michigan University, Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee announced today, June 4.

Westmeyer arrives in Ypsilanti following one of the most successful coaching tenures in the history of the University of Findlay women's tennis program. A two-time Great Midwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, he transformed the Oilers into a perennial conference champion, national tournament qualifier, and nationally ranked program while establishing a culture centered on competitive excellence, academic achievement, and player development.

Westmeyer spent eight years at Findlay, joining the program as an assistant coach in 2018 before being elevated to head women's tennis coach in 2020. In the summer of 2025, he assumed responsibility for both the men's and women's programs as Director of Tennis.

Under his leadership, the Findlay women's program emerged as one of the nation's top Division II programs. The Oilers compiled a 98-35 overall record and a remarkable 42-6 conference mark during his tenure as head coach. Findlay qualified for the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championship in each of his five seasons as head coach and captured conference tournament championships in 2023 and 2026, the only conference tournament titles in program history.

The 2026 season marked the pinnacle of the program's rise under Westmeyer's leadership. Findlay established a program record with 22 victories, finished a perfect 9-0 in conference play, won both the regular season and conference tournament championships, and earned the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Midwest Regional. The Oilers captured the regional championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship site for the first time in school history before reaching the national quarterfinals.

The success elevated Findlay into the national spotlight. The Oilers spent 28 weeks ranked among the nation's top 25 programs during Westmeyer's tenure and reached a program-best No. 4 national ranking in 2026. The final ITA rankings of the season placed Findlay No. 12 nationally and No. 2 in the Midwest Region.

Westmeyer's impact extended well beyond team success.

He coached 12 First Team All-Conference selections, 13 Second Team All-Conference honorees, three conference Freshman of the Year recipients, and the 2020-21 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He also developed four nationally ranked singles players and five nationally ranked doubles teams, including a doubles pairing that climbed as high as No. 2 nationally and a singles player who reached No. 11 in the country.

His teams consistently excelled in the classroom as well. Findlay maintained a team grade-point average of at least 3.73 in every season under his leadership, while earning national recognition for both academic and athletic achievements.

Westmeyer also demonstrated a proven ability to grow program resources. During his tenure, annual fundraising increased from approximately $1,000 to more than $15,500 per year, helping strengthen the foundation of one of Division II's fastest-rising tennis programs.

In his first season directing both Findlay tennis programs, Westmeyer led the men's team to a 12-9 overall record, a 6-2 conference mark, and an NCAA Tournament appearance while coaching two First Team All-Conference selections.

Prior to Findlay, Westmeyer founded and directed Westmeyer Tennis in Dallas, Texas, where he worked extensively with high-level junior players and state championship competitors. He also served as a tennis professional at Highland Park Tennis Academy and accumulated significant collegiate coaching experience at the University of Virginia, the University of Toledo, and Michigan State University.

At Virginia, Westmeyer helped coach a nationally ranked NCAA Division I women's tennis program while assisting in the recruitment and development of nationally ranked student-athletes. At Toledo, he directed many day-to-day operations of the women's tennis program while assisting with recruiting and player development for both programs.

A former standout collegiate player at Bowling Green State University, Westmeyer earned First Team All-Mid-American Conference honors, served as team captain, was named team MVP, and helped establish a school doubles record. He was later recognized as the 1997 Northwest Ohio United States Tennis Association Player of the Year.
 
Westmeyer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Bowling Green State University in 1994 and a Master of Arts degree in economics from the University of Toledo in 2003.