BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — In the process of reaching out to recruits and alums these days, Wisconsin men's tennis coach Danny Westerman is sure to include a brief YouTube link.
It lasts less than a minute and there's no voiceover, but as far as Westerman is concerned, it speaks volumes.
It's a series of architectural renderings that provide a glimpse into pending upgrades to the Wisconsin Outdoor Tennis Stadium.
The reaction?
"Just a big wow," Westerman said.
Eight new courts will replace the current six. NCAA-certified lighting will be installed. An elevated grandstand area with seating for nearly 1,000 fans will be built. A main digital scoreboard, six auxiliary boards to track each match and new windscreens will also be put in.
Construction is scheduled to begin this week with Sept. 1 as the targeted finish.
Westerman and colleague Kelcy McKenna, the women's tennis head coach, are naturally overjoyed.
"It means having a facility that's on par with some of the best in the country," Westerman said.
"It will help us transform the program," McKenna said.
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Wisconsin Outdoor Tennis Stadium Renovation Tour
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Westerman just finished his third season as coach at his alma mater, a stint that included an NCAA tournament berth for the Badgers, the first in seven years, in 2017.
He said the combination of indoor and outdoor facilities will be at the highest level in the Big Ten Conference and "give our student-athletes the best experience possible."
McKenna just completed her second season at Wisconsin, a stint highlighted by great success on the recruiting trail and a noticeable upswing in performance.
She said the upgrades weren't mentioned at all during her job interview, but since the project came to life earlier this year "support has been phenomenal and we're just so incredibly grateful."
The renovations will allow Westerman and McKenna to schedule outdoor competitions in the fall and spring that would otherwise have resulted in a travel date.
Westerman, a three-time all-Big Ten selection who played for the Badgers from 1998 to 2002, said he'd also like to stage community events there in the summer.
"It will truly feel like a collegiate tennis stadium," he said. "You can see all six competition courts. That's what I think people are most excited about. They can actually see the entire match from almost any location in the stands."
Asked for her favorite aspect of the project, McKenna, a former singles and doubles All-American at Arizona State, rattled off a list of the upgrades before reaching an upbeat conclusion.
"It's hard to know what your favorite component's going to be until you have the finished product," she said. "I'm excited for all of it."
Both coaches have high expectations for their programs and the new facilities underscore those feelings.
"I think it shows that we're a serious tennis program," Westerman said.
"It's a welcome addition for sure," McKenna said.
