Barkema Named Head Tennis Coach At Knox

Amanda Barkema was named the head men's and women's tennis coach at Knox College on May 27. She will also serve as the Head Pro at Soangetaha Country Club. Barkema will begin her duties on August 1.

"We are extremely pleased to add Amanda to our staff," said Knox Director of Athletics Chad Eisele. "We feel she will do a great job with our tennis programs."

Barkema is currently working at the Wakonda Country Club in Des Moines, Iowa, where she teaches clinics and organizes the tennis pro shop. A 2008 graduate of Wartburg College, where she earned her degree in Business Administration and a minor in Accounting, Barkema was a four-year tennis letter winner for the Knights.

Barkema, from Muscatine, Iowa, worked as a student assistant tennis recruiter and assistant equipment manager at Wartburg in 2007-08. She served as an assistant junior varsity tennis coach at Waverly-Shell Rock High School from 2005-07. Barkema also taught group lessons in Waverly, Iowa.

"I'm really excited about this opportunity," said Barkema. "I really want to coach at a Division III school and I'm looking forward to making a difference at Knox."