Pruefer announces retirement

(Waukesha, Wis.) - Carroll University's Al Pruefer is retiring from coaching, Pioneers athletic director Kris Jacobsen announced today.

Pruefer has coached in the Carroll athletic department for the last eight years, as an assistant men's basketball coach from 2002-2009 and as the head women's tennis coach from 2003-2009.

"Coach Pruefer has been a very devoted, hard-working coach who truly enjoyed working with collegiate student-athletes," said Jacobsen. "He helped build the mens basketball program into a powerhouse and, as head coach of the womens tennis team, built a program strong in talent and tradition. His efforts have been truly appreciated and we wish him well in his retirement."

Over the past seven seasons, Pruefer's tennis teams have amassed a regular-season record of 61-28-1. Three times, he led the program to the four-team Midwest Conference Women's Tennis Team Championship Tournament - in 2003, 2004 and 2007 - and finished third in 2007 after knocking off Lake Forest College in the third-place match.

Pruefer's 2007 squad finished the regular season with a record of 11-2, the program's best since joining the Midwest Conference in 1992. During that season, one of Pruefer's standout performers, Samantha Bachmann, finished the regular season with a perfect 13-0 record, the best individual season on record in Carroll history.

"From where we started in 2003, we made some real strides with the women's tennis program," said Pruefer. "I feel like this is a good time for me to retire because the program is now established and there is a lot of talent returning in 2010. I am very proud to have been a part of two very successful athletic programs at Carroll."

When former head coach David Schultz took over the Carroll men's basketball program in 2002,
he secured Pruefer as an assistant coach - the only assistant who continued coaching with Schultz during Schultz's seven years at Carroll.

Pruefer and the men's basketball program enjoyed unparalleled success from 2002-2009. The team routinely competed for the Midwest Conference Championship, while also making its mark at the national level. The Pioneers were ranked in the national Top 25 on several occasions and,  in the 2006-2007 season, advanced to the "Sweet Sixteen" in the NCAA Tournament.

Before coming to Carroll, Pruefer taught math for 16 years at Union Grove High School and 16 at Central Middle School in Waukesha. Among his coaching accolades at Union Grove was Racine County Girls Tennis Coach of the Year honors in 1979-1980, as well as numerous Coach of the Year honors in basketball.

As a prep honor student, Pruefer was a three-year letter-winner at Jefferson High School in basketball and tennis. He lettered twice in men's tennis at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse before graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a degree in mathematics and a minor in physical education. He earned his master's degree in guidance and counseling at  UW-Whitewater in 1974.

Pruefer and his wife Karen plan to spend more time with their three children and six grandchildren.

2009-2010 Women's Tennis Home Page

2009-2010 Women's Tennis News Archives