Fresno Pacific University Director of Athletics Aaron Henderson has announced the hiring of Priscilla Jensen as head women’s tennis coach. Jensen, the reigning Wilson/ITA West Region Coach of the Year comes to FPU after starting the tennis program at San Diego Christian College, where she has served as head coach of the men’s and women’s teams since 2014.
“After a national search, Priscilla stood out amongst an excellent pool of candidates. Not only does she possess a strong track-record within the sport of tennis, but she genuinely understands who we are as a Christian institution. During the hiring process, it quickly became apparent that there was an alignment of core values and a shared vision of what FPU women’s tennis can become,” Henderson said. “She has an amazing testimony, a passion for helping student-athletes grow in all walks of life, and a desire to invest in our campus community as well as the Central Valley. We are excited to welcome Priscilla and her family into the FPU community.”
In four seasons with the Hawks, Jensen has coached two conference championship teams and produced 24 All-Americans. San Diego Christian claimed the GSAC Player of the Year last season, while the women’s team ranking climbed as high as fifth in the national poll. The Hawks have also demonstrated success away from the court under Jensen’s direction, claiming three NAIA Champions of Character Awards and an ITA Community Service & Outreach Award. Academically, Jensen’s teams have received 10 ITA Scholar-Athlete honors, while the women’s program has claimed the highest team GPA in the department in each of the last three years.
“FPU has a long record of impacting the next generation of leaders through the platform of athletics, and I look forward to carrying on this tradition. My goal, as part of the rebuilding of the women’s tennis team is to attract, retain and graduate women who will develop in all facets of campus life: spiritually, academically and athletically,” Jensen said. “I am humbled by the confidence of Aaron Henderson, Jeremiah Wood and the full search committee who diligently carried out the hiring process. The future is bright at FPU, and I am certain God will use the women’s tennis team to create sweeping impact throughout the community.”
A 1997 graduate of Biola University, Jensen was seeded #1 in singles and doubles while also playing as a forward on the Eagles’ soccer team. She received her B.A. in Intercultural Studies while minoring in Radio/TV/Film & Biblical Studies before earning her M.A. in Intercultural Studies and International Business from Biola two years later.
Fresno Pacific will give the Pacific West Conference the largest women’s tennis membership of any Division II league in the country, and the Sunbirds will play a full schedule in the 2018-19 school year. Jensen will finish out the season at San Diego Christian and will officially begin her position at Fresno Pacific on May 15.