William Jewell tennis hires new assistant coach

Lanny Wake, a 28-year veteran tennis coach, has been named the new men's and women's assistant tennis coach at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo.

Coach Wake has spent the last 28 seasons as the head boy's coach at Cameron High School in Cameron, Mo. Wake is a 1981 graduate of Missouri Western State College. He was a four-year letter winner in tennis for the Griffons and was named to the CISC All-Conference Team during his junior season. He graduated with a degree in Health and Physical Education, then went on to earn his master's degree in Exercise Science from Truman State University in 1987. Wake began teaching at Cameron in the fall of 1981 and retired in May of 2010.

During his tenure at Cameron High, Wake had the opportunity to coach 10 conference finalists, 15 state qualifiers, and three state medalists. In 2006 he coached the Dragons to their second state championship in the sport of wrestling.

Wake will be reunited with Jewell's Head Coach Paul Worstell, who played under him at Cameron High School from 1987-90. "I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to work side by side with Coach Wake," said Worstell. "I learned my tennis coaching philosophy from him. This opportunity to work with him is very special to me. I believe his experience will be a tremendous asset to our program."

Wake's responsibilities at Jewell will include a key role in practice planning, assisting in match preparation, and recruiting. Wake and his wife Lila have two daughters, Whitney and Megan.