By Daijah White / Sports Editor

After a match against Ottawa University in Kansas, recently hired Tennis Coach Brett Bridel quit  abruptly. Missouri Valley College’s Athletic Department had only announced the hiring of Bridel on January 8.

Bridel came to Valley with coaching experience across all collegiate levels. His most recent position before MVC was in Kansas at Seward County Community College, where he led a woman’s player to the National Junior College Athletic Association Individual National Championship. 

The men’s and women’s teams both took on Ottawa University, and when the players got on the bus, they were informed of the unexpected news. 

“At the end of the game, we got on the bus and he told us he was leaving and that this team wasn’t the right fit for him,” said Queralt Carbo. 

Bridel did not hold a meeting of any kind and players that weren’t on the varsity trip were informed by the players on the bus when Bridel told them. 

Liam Kahmeyer has been placed as the Interim Head Coach for the rest of the team’s season. This is not his first time serving as interim head coach as he held the title last semester in the offseason.

Interim Athletic Director Scott Queen confirmed the appointment in a statement.

“We are welcoming professor Liam Kahmeyer as the interim head coach,” Queen said. “He has been the assistant coach for the past year.” 

Bridel gave the news to the players before the assistant coach and the athletic department.

“A handful of the players knew before I knew,” Kahmeyer said. 

Bridel did not give the athletes a reason other than not feeling supported by the athletic department, but he did give Kahmeyer an indication of why he was leaving.

“He did tell me one of the reasons he left is because he did not want to coach college tennis anymore,” Kahmeyuer said. “He wants throw his hat in college hockey.”