Phil Whitehead has been named women's tennis coach at Linfield University, director of athletics Scott Brosius announced on Monday.
 
Whitehead arrives at Linfield with more than 30 years of coaching experience at the high school, collegiate, and club levels to his new position.
 
Whitehead is no stranger to Linfield, having led two varsity programs as head coach and assisting with a third three decades earlier. He returns as women's tennis coach, a role he held for six seasons from 1988 until 1994. During that span, he compiled a 57-49-1 win-loss record, twice being honored as the Northwest Conference's Coach of the Year. He also carried the title of women's soccer head coach from 1990 until 1992, and served as an assistant women's basketball coach at Linfield from 1989 to 1994.
 
"Returning to Linfield has been a dream of mine for a very long time," said Whitehead. "This institution gave me a chance as a young head coach 30-plus years ago and my entire coaching career has been shaped by those experiences. From my tennis coaching philosophy, to how I approach my personal relationships, the Linfield stamp is everywhere."
 
Most recently, Whitehead spent the 2023-24 academic year working as women's tennis coach at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, where he also served as the college's club and intramural sports organizer. He previously spent time as boys tennis coach at Mountain View High School (2020-24), girls tennis coach at Newberg High School (2002-04), and was women's tennis coach at Willamette University (1996-99).
 
Additionally, Whitehead worked as lead tennis instructor at Central Oregon C.C. for two years (2022-24), and was tennis director and head professional at Tennis West Racquet Club in Corvallis (1994) and Black Butte Ranch.
 
A native of Redmond, Oregon, Whitehead is a graduate of Central Oregon Community College where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in political science.
 
"I am very passionate about the college tennis game," he said. "I view this opportunity as a way to share that passion with our student-athletes and to create a positive environment that they can grow and develop and be the best version of themselves on and off the court. Linfield taught me so many life skills and now I get to pass those along to my players."
 
He replaces Tessa Kern, who led the program for two seasons.