KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Western Michigan Vice President/Director of Athletics Dan Bartholomae has announced the promotion of Stephen Payne to head women's tennis coach.
 
Payne served as the interim head coach during the 2025-26 season, coaching the Broncos to a 13-8 record in dual matches and a 4-4 record in MAC play, finishing tied for fourth but just missing out on the MAC Tournament due to a tiebreaker. Several Broncos had career-best years under Payne, including senior Audrey Smitek who went on to be named Second Team All-MAC. Smitek was also named the MAC Leann Grimes Sportsmanship Award Winner, the second-straight season a Bronco has won the honors.
 
"I'm very honored and excited to lead this program in its future," said Payne. "I would like to thank Athletic Director Dan Bartholomae for his support and confidence during this past season. I'd also like to thank Coach Dave Morin for his guidance and mentorship in my time at WMU. Bronco Tennis has a long and storied history of championship success and developing great individual student athletes. To follow in the footsteps of many great coaches and players is something I'm very proud of and look forward to embracing. Kalamazoo is the City of Champions, and that is exactly what we aim to bring and foster with our Bronco Tennis team!"

"Stephen has had a long standing tenure working with our multiple championship men's program and immediately brought that same energy and expertise to our women's program in an interim role this past season," said Bartholomae. "He made significant strides in positioning that program for elevated success and we are thrilled he will continue on as the permanent head coach."

Prior to taking over the women's program, Payne was an assistant under Dave Morin with WMU men's tennis team. As an assistant, Payne helped the Broncos to two MAC Tournament Championships and four consecutive MAC Regular Season Titles from 2021-24. WMU has produced 14 All-MAC selections during Payne's time and two MAC Player of the Year award winners in Jannik Opitz (2021) and Anton Arzhankin (2025). Opitz also left WMU as the all-time winningest player in program history.
 
Payne graduated in 2016 from Western Michigan with a Bachelor's Degree in Management. He played four seasons for WMU from 2012-16, winning two MAC Championships. Payne also achieved a career-high ITA Doubles Ranking of No. 37 in Jan. of 2016. He is a two-time Hap Sorensen Coaches' Award winner, he was a part of the 2014 and 2015 WMU Doubles Team of the Year, alongside Matt Hamilton. Payne also served as a team captain.