University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

Brian Biernat enters his 4th season as the Blugolds head tennis coach, accumulating a 61% winning record (32-20) over the past 3 seasons. “I couldn’t be prouder of this team in how they balance the daily school and practice schedule to excel at both, as well as compete on the road against the top D3 tennis teams in the country.” 
 
Accomplishments:

• WIAC Conference coach of the year ‘21 
• 75% winning percentage in NJAC / WIAC men’s conference over 3 years. 
• Midwest region rank high of #15 
• All-Academic Team 2023* 
• All-Academic student athletes* (6) 2023 
• ITF Team World Tennis Ranking 2024 – 20.3 
• US Players: Wisconsin, Minnesota 
• International Players: Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, United Kingdom  

Biernat played collegiately at the University of Minnesota under coaches Jerry Noyce and Craig Jones.  After college, Biernat also played internationally in France, where he spent three years playing in tournaments and ATP challengers throughout europe. In addition to competing, he also coached Valerie Depoulain - one of the Top 100 female players at the time - in the French circuit. 
Biernat later returned to the United States and played in the Northwest USTA summer tournaments and during his career claimed the No. 1 ranking in the Northwest Open Doubles Division in 1981 with partner Mark Wheaton, No.1 singles ranking in 35’s in 1994 and No.1 in 45’s singles ranking in the SouthWestern Arizona section in 2004.  

After Europe, Biernat coached at numerous clubs and academies, including Minikahda, Woodhill CC and Lifetime (Northwest) Clubs in Minnesota before transitioning into the corporate work - where he has worked for over 30 years in various positions of leadership for J&J and GlaxoSmithKline.  In addition, Biernat later returned to the U of M to earn a master’s degree in liberal studies with an emphasis on leadership. 

This will be my final season head coaching at UWEC; I am retiring to Florida in the fall. I am impressed with the support I have received from the Athletic Department to build this program up to one of the top D3 programs in the Midwest. This has been one of the best experiences in my life, and I appreciate the team, staff and councilors that helped us be healthy and competitive.

2023 Academic*: 
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's tennis team received both team and individual academic honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for the 2023 season. The Blugolds were named an All-Academic Team and had six individuals named Scholar Athletes. 
(To be named an All-Academic Team, a program must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.2.) Individually, student-athletes must record a 3.5 GPA to be named a Scholar Athlete.  
Matt Christensen, Ryan Fonseca (Jr. - Andover, Minn.), Kole Kolinski (Sr. - Kewaunee, Wis./Ashwaubenon), Jared Lawatsch (Fr. - Neenah, Wis.), Ethan Leeser (Fr. - Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) and Ethan Wurtzel (Jr. - Menomonie, Wis.) all received that distinction.

Updated: 8/31/2023