Newberry College names Macheli as Tennis Head Coach

NEWBERRY — After leading the Wolves women’s and men’s tennis teams as acting head coach during the 2023-24 tennis season, Newberry College Athletics announced Aletta Macheli has been named head coach.

“I am extremely proud of what Coach Macheli accomplished this season,” said Athletics Director Sean Johnson. “To take over after the start of the school year after losing our head coach and leading our women’s team to the NCAA Tournament was an amazing accomplishment. She is the right person for the job, and I am confident she will lead us to continued success on and off the court.”

Macheli led the Wolves women’s tennis team to their second NCAA Tournament bid in three seasons while posting a 12-8 dual match record. The men’s team was hampered by numerous injuries during the season, lost five matches by one point and finished 4-14 overall.

“This year was a great experience coaching our men’s and women’s tennis teams,” said Macheli. “I am very excited to continue to work with both teams and help them reach their best potential. Let’s go Wolves!”

“I am thrilled that Aletta will be able to step into this role permanently,” said search committee chair and Senior Associate Athletics Director Wayne Alexander. “She did a great job under tough circumstances last year and I’m excited to see how she continues to develop the student athletes and add to the foundation of success in tennis programs.”

The women’s tennis team posted a 3.5 cumulative grade point average for the 2023-24 academic year while the men had a 3.37 team grade point average.

Macheli joined the Newberry staff after serving a graduate assistant at East Texas Baptist University in 2022-23. Macheli helped lead the Tigers to a regional ranking for the first time since 2019.

As an undergraduate, Macheli played two seasons at Cowley County Community College (Kan.), one season at Barton College, and her final two seasons at Mars Hill. She earned ITA All-American Scholar-Athlete honors in 2019-20.

A native of Bloemfontein, South Africa, Macheli earned her associates degree from Cowley County Community College in 2019, her undergraduate degree from Mars Hill (2022) and master’s degree from East Texas Baptist (2023).