Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State Names Gertjan De Wilder Women's Tennis Head Coach
6/9/2026 1:59:00 PM | Women's Tennis
After guiding the Beach to a winning season, a Big West Semifinal appearance, multiple All-Big West honors, and three CSC Academic All-District selections during his first year leading the program, De Wilder is officially named head coach.
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State Athletics has announced the removal of the interim tag from Gertjan De Wilder, officially naming him Head Coach of the Beach Women's Tennis program following a successful first season leading the program.
After spending three seasons as an assistant coach, De Wilder took over the program as Interim Head Coach and guided a young Beach squad to a 13-12 overall record and a Big West Championship Semifinal appearance. Under his leadership, Long Beach State continued to build momentum both on the court and in the classroom while laying a strong foundation for the future.
"Gertjan has done an outstanding job leading our women's tennis program this past year, and we are excited to remove the interim designation and name him our head coach," said Executive Director of Athletics Bobby Smitheran. "He has earned the trust and respect of our student-athletes, recruited and developed exceptional talent, and fostered a culture that reflects the values of Long Beach State Athletics. The progress of our program, the continued growth of our student-athletes, and the stability he has built within the team made this decision an easy one. We are confident that under Gertjan's leadership, Beach Tennis will continue to compete for championships and provide an outstanding experience for our student-athletes."
With De Wilder at the helm, the Beach earned multiple postseason honors during the 2025-26 campaign. Cecilia Costa garnered All-Big West First Team singles recognition after posting a team-best 21-12 overall record while competing primarily at the top of the lineup. Costa also earned Big West Player of the Week honors three times during the season and teamed with Paulina Franco Martinessi to secure All-Big West First Team doubles accolades after the pair compiled a 16-6 overall record and a 5-2 mark in conference play.
Pamela Badillo added All-Big West Honorable Mention singles honors after recording a 20-12 overall record and a 5-4 conference mark. The sophomore also opened the season with a championship performance at the Big West Fall Tournament, winning six consecutive singles matches to capture the 64-player main draw title. Thea Jagare also earned Big West Player of the Week recognition during the season, giving Long Beach State four conference weekly awards under De Wilder's leadership.
Success extended beyond competition as well. Diana De Simone, Paulina Franco Martinessi and Thea Jagare earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors for their achievements in the classroom and on the court, while the Beach collectively maintained a team GPA above 3.50 during the 2025-26 academic year.
"I am proud to continue my journey at the place that gave me this opportunity," said Head Coach Gertjan De Wilder. "Long Beach has become home for me, and I am excited to build upon the success and tradition that have defined this program for so many years. I look forward to continuing to bring high-level tennis to our community while helping our student-athletes grow and succeed both on and off the court. I am grateful for the trust and support of our administration, student-athletes, alumni and fans, and I am excited for what the future holds for Beach Tennis as we continue pursuing excellence in every aspect of our program. Go Beach!"
A native of Belgium, De Wilder brings extensive international experience, having served as a sparring partner within the Belgian Tennis Federation and coached players competing in ITF events around the world.
Now entering his fifth season with the program, De Wilder will continue leading a talented and experienced Beach roster as Long Beach State looks to contend for Big West championships in the years ahead.
