Brad Pihl has been the head coach of the Thunder men's tennis team since his appointment in December of 2006. The Wheaton men's tennis program has won 25 conference titles, the second-most of any CCIW team, and two of these trophies have come during Pihl's time at the helm.
Wheaton has finished in the top four of the conference standings with a winning record in CCIW play in every season of Pihl's tenure, and he has coached 12 All-Conference players since 2018.
Pihl was named CCIW Coach of the Year for a second time in 2017, leading Wheaton to a CCIW title, a 17-8 record, and a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Additionally, Justin Ancona and Matt Steiner earned All-American honors in doubles play with Ancona also qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a singles player.
Wheaton was 15-7 overall in 2015 and finished second in the CCIW with a 4-1 record while earning a third place finish in the CCIW Tournament.
The Thunder tallied an 18-6 record in 2014 with a 4-2 conference record and reached the final of the CCIW Tournament.
Wheaton finished 13-7 overall in 2013 with a 4-1 CCIW record.
In 2012, Wheaton won its first CCIW Championship since 2003 and Pihl was named the CCIW Coach of the Year. The Thunder ended the year on a 12-match win streak to finish with an 18-5 overall record. Three members of the squad were named All-Conference.
Pihl's 2011 squad finished 8-12 overall with a 2-3 CCIW record.
In 2010, the Thunder went 10-8 overall, 3-2 in the CCIW and reached the CCIW Tournament final vs. Carthage College.
In 2009, Wheaton went 6-11 overall with a 3-2 CCIW conference record. Davis Moore earned CCIW First Team All-Conference accolades.
In 2008, Pihl led the Thunder to a 14-7 overall record and an undefeated 5-0 mark in CCIW action. Their success earned the Thunder their fourth appearance in the NCAA Division III Tennis Tournament.
In the spring campaign in his first year at the helm of the Wheaton program, Pihl guided Wheaton to a 12-9 record and a second-place finish in the CCIW. Wheaton concluded the 2007 campaign ranked 17th in the Division III Central Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Under Pihl's tutelage, Josh Williams became the first Wheaton men's tennis player since 1995 to be selected to the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Singles Championship.
Pihl is a 1999 graduate of Wheaton with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Economics and holds a Master’s Degree in Communications Studies from Northern Illinois University.
Pihl was a four-year letterwinner for the Wheaton men’s tennis program and was a member of Wheaton’s CCIW champion men’s tennis team in 1996. He won a conference championship at number-three doubles at the 1997 CCIW Championships.
Pihl has also served as a tennis professional at College Park Athletic Club in Deerfield, Illinois. In addition to his role as a tennis pro, he has coached several junior tennis players, including nationally-ranked players. Pihl’s previous team coaching experience includes tenures as a prep coach. He served as the girl’s tennis coach at nearby Wheaton Academy in 2000 and he was the girl’s tennis coach for Woodlands Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois in 2004 and again in 2006.
