Tim Pleasant begins his first season as Head Tennis Coach at Bethune-Cookman University.

Pleasant comes to B-CU from Coker (S.C.) College, where both the men's and women's teams improved their records in Pleasant's one year as coach from ninth place to fifth place for both programs. He also coached Coker's first ever Conference Carolinas Women's Tennis Player of the Year, Alyssa Blanchard. During his tenure at Coker, the women's team had two all-conference selections and the men's team earned one all-academic conference player as well.

Prior to Coker, Pleasant served six years as the Director of Tennis at the Rock Hill Tennis Center in Rock Hill, S.C. While at Rock Hill, Coach Pleasant achieved many accolades that included creating the Mid-Carolina Tennis Association, a non-profit organization that raised over $75,000 for kids and the local tennis community that was awarded the #1 non-profit association in S.C. for 2010.

Pleasant also worked closely with the U.S. Open Director Brian Early to organize and direct the first $25K USTA Women's Professional Tournament in Rock Hill, S.C. and continues to be the second largest professional tournament in S.C. next to the Family Circle Cup held in Charleston, S.C.

He also started the Rock Tennis Academy in Rock Hill, where he personally trained and sent 12 students on to achieve college tennis scholarships and had over 60 kids in the program with USTA State and Sectional rankings.

Coach Pleasant also served on several USTA State Committees to include the South Carolina Community Development Committee & the South Carolina Junior Development Committee. Pleasant was also chosen to serve as a USTA 10 and under high performance coach and was selected to work at the prestigious Van der Meer training camps in which Coach Pleasant earned the opportunity to work with the best players in South Carolina ages 10-18 each year.

As Director of Tennis, he organized over 16 USTA tournaments per year at the Rock Hill Tennis Center & was selected as Tournament Director for the annual South Carolina State Junior & Adult Open Tennis Tournament that draws over 1,000 competitors from around the southern section of the USTA.

Coach Pleasant was previously the Head Tennis Coach for Men & Women at Austin Peay State University Division I in Tennessee from 1998 - 2001. At APSU, he was able to bring both programs from the bottom to the top three of the conference within only three years as head coach. He graduated four players with perfect 4.0 G.P.A.'s & was awarded best team G.P.A. all three years at APSU.

After APSU, Pleasant worked under former U.S.A. Fed Cup Coach and winner of over 60 ATP titles Marty Reissen (GM) & USPTA Master Professional Paul Kobelt (Director) as Assistant Director of Tennis at New Albany Country Club in Ohio. N.A.C.C. was awarded as the best private facility in the United States in 2003 by Tennis Industry Magazine while Pleasant was Assistant Director there. Coach Tim was directly credited for developing the top junior program in Ohio and for his efforts in expanding the facility to over 26 courts while at N.A.C.C. Some of his first students while at N.A.C.C. are currently playing tennis at Ohio State, Syracuse, William & Mary, and Wright State University.

Pleasant played Division I college tennis at Eastern Kentucky University from 1992-1996. While playing #1 at EKU, Pleasant set the Ohio Valley Conference record at #1 doubles with a single season record of 30-3 and earning an NCAA ranking of #17 in the nation. After college, Pleasant traveled and played numerous tournaments and landed a top 10 national ranking in both singles and doubles in the USTA. Pleasant then returned to EKU, where he received his master's degree in Sports Management and Sports Psychology before going on to coach at APSU.

"Tim is a perfect fit for our tennis program," B-CU Athletic Director Lynn W. Thompson said. "We're looking forward to his contribution in helping us sustain a championship level in our athletic endeavors."

Pleasant is excited about the opportunity to return to the Division I level.

"I'm happy to be back in Division I and appreciate the opportunity Mr. Thompson has provided me and my family," Pleasant said. "Florida's an excellent place to recruit. The history of Bethune-Cookman University is well known. It's an honor to be coaching here and it's a place I hope to be able to retire from."

He and his wife, Brenda, have four children - Lilly (6), Timothy (5), Frances & Charles (1 yr. old twins)