IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa head women’s tennis coach Sasha Schmid announced on Monday the hiring of former Hawkeye Elise van Heuvelen Treadwell as assistant coach.
“I would firstly like to thank Sasha and the rest of the search committee for the opportunity to join the University of Iowa,” said van Heuvelen Treadwell. “I am so grateful that I am able to return back to my alma mater, a place that is so special to me. It is such an honor for me to be able to put the Black and Gold on once again. I am so appreciative to once again be a part of the successful culture at Iowa and the rich traditions of what it means to be a Hawkeye.
“I am excited to work alongside Sasha and build on the success that she has had with this program. l cannot wait to be back in Iowa City and meet the team and the rest of the staff.”
Van Heuvelen Treadwell joins the Hawkeye coaching staff after serving as an assistant coach at Delaware since January 2022. She began her coaching career the Fall 2021 semester as a volunteer assistant coach with the Hawkeyes.
“I am thrilled to have Elise join our coaching staff. Elise brings her commitment to excellence, incredible Hawkeye pride and love of coaching back to her alma mater,” Schmid said. “She will settle right into a familiarity with our team, and our athletics department that is invaluable. We are so proud to have a coaching staff comprised of two Iowa tennis alums and we can’t wait to get started.”
Van Heuvelen Treadwell concluded her Hawkeye career in the spring of 2021, as one of the most decorated women’s tennis student-athletes in Iowa and Big Ten history. Achieving an individual rank within the top-100 nationally in both singles and doubles, Van Heuvelen Treadwell ranks second all-time at Iowa with 180 combined wins. She was named first-team All-Big Ten five times and was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2017.
In her final year, Van Heuvelen Treadwell earned the ITA Central Region Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award. The East Sussex, England, native was also named the ITA Central Regional Senior Player of the Year in 2020 and was the ITA Summer National Doubles Champion in 2019.
Off of the tennis court, Van Heuvelen Treadwell was a four-time Academic All Big-Ten recipient and a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for achieving a GPA of 3.70 or higher. She also was selected as an ITA Scholar-Athlete three times and was named to the Dean’s List three times. A member of Iowa Athletics’ DEI subcommittee, Van Heuvelen Treadwell also served as a mental health peer supporter for Iowa’s student-athletes.