Valparaiso University Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation Laurel Hosmer has named James Gleghorn the next head coach of the Valpo women's tennis program.
 
Gleghorn spent the last four seasons as the head coach of the men's and women's programs at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marian, Ind., where he led the women's program to a Top 20 NAIA national ranking in each season.
 
"As I was looking for potential next steps in my coaching career, my No. 1 choice was Valparaiso," Gleghorn said. "They gave me the opportunity to come to a Division-I program on the cusp of greatness. I love the values and the student-athlete experience at Valparaiso, and being able to be part of the 'Ring The Bell' culture is something that excites me as a coach. Being able to compete for conference championships every year is the expectation. I would like to thank President Rev. Brian Konkol, Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation Laurel Hosmer and Sport Administrator Candy Jessen for entrusting me with this opportunity."
 
During his time at Indiana Wesleyan, Gleghorn coached 16 ITA All-Americans, 10 NAIA All-Americans and three Academic All-Americans. He also coached 49 CSC and Daktronics Scholar-Athletes, eight ITA regional champions, an ITA national semifinalist and 18 all-conference selections. The 2023 and 2024 Crossroads League Coach of the Year, Gleghorn led his team to a No. 8 ranking in the final ITA team rankings in 2024, guided the women's team to conference championships in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 and had a sixth-place finish at ITA Indoor Nationals 2023, a Round of 32 NAIA appearance in 2023 and a Round of 16 appearance in 2024.
 
"We are excited to welcome Coach Gleghorn to the Valpo Family," Hosmer said. "His successful on-court track record will serve him well as he leads Valpo Tennis into the future. Coach Gleghorn's background in team building and player development make him the right fit to fulfill our University's mission of building lives for good. We're excited for future Valpo graduates to grow and thrive under his mentorship."
 
Gleghorn has been involved in collegiate tennis at the national level, as he was host and tournament director of an ITA Regional in each of the last four seasons. Since 2022, he has also served as an ITA West NAIA Women's National Rater. He was a member of the NAIA National Tournament Committee this past season. While at Indiana Wesleyan, Gleghorn also served as an Associate Athletic Director for fundraising, leading a $1.6 million project for a new on-campus tennis complex.
 
"I'm really grateful for the last four years at Indiana Wesleyan," Gleghorn said. "It was a special time to coach at my alma mater. I enjoyed being around the staff and a great group of student-athletes."
 
A 1997 Indiana Wesleyan University graduate with a degree in political science and history, Gleghorn served as the head men's tennis coach and interim women's tennis coach at Huntington University in Huntington, Ind. in 1996-97, leading the men's team to a No. 25 NAIA national ranking. He served as a head tennis professional and USPTA pro in Atlanta, Ga. from 1997-2005 and worked as a nonprofit leader at various nonprofits from January 2001 to July 2022 before making his return to the collegiate ranks.  
 
"I've spent the last 25 years in and around tennis and leadership," Gleghorn said. "It was gratifying to see the fruits of my labor with the success we achieved at Indiana Wesleyan. The Valparaiso community has been incredibly inviting and welcoming with everyone that we've gotten to meet. We as a family look forward to fitting into this community."
 
What They're Saying About Coach Gleghorn
Kai Fong, Head Coach, Lewis-Clark State College: "James is a stand-up guy. I have known him as a college recruit. I have coached against him for a few years, and I have worked alongside him on a national-level committee. If I was an AD looking for a tennis coach, James would be the first person I would call up."
 
Chris Carlson, Associate Athletics Director, UCLA: "James Gleghorn is a fierce competitor, tireless recruiter and a fantastic coach. He has a tremendous work ethic and a unique ability to work favorably with others. The Valpo community has just gotten a tireless advocate for its athletic department and campus as a whole. Coach Gleghorn is a winner!"
 
Deane Webb, Former Director of Athletics, Indiana Wesleyan University: "James has the experience and tenacity to grow the Valpo women's tennis program into one that will be respected in the Missouri Valley Conference and appreciated on campus in every way. Great hire!"