Gene Highfield was named the new head men's and women's tennis coach at Lees-McRae College on June 23, 2020 by Vice President for Athletics and Club Sports Craig McPhail.

"I'm excited for our program to have someone with Gene's passion for tennis, love for this area and commitment to further developing our teams," McPhail said. "From his success at Oklahoma to his years as a member of the U.S. Virgin Islands Davis Cup team, along with his energetic personality, made it clear he was the right candidate for us. Having someone committed to teaching our student-athletes this life-long sport with high-level experience and great people skills were characteristics we placed highly in the search process. I'm looking for Gene to be engaged in our community, while also reengaging our alumni to continue the growth of Lees-McRae tennis." 

Highfield joins the Bobcats after spending the previous year as the head tennis coach at Watauga High School, where he was responsible for planning and executing daily programs that focused on physical and mental tennis training, and as the Director of Tennis at the Gene Highfield Tennis Inc., in Boone, N.C., where his roles included organizing and directing Adult USTA and Junior USTA leagues and tournament events. 

"I feel very blessed for this opportunity Craig McPhail has given me to be a part of the Lees-McRae Bobcats," said Highfield. "I have a great group of student-athletes and look forward to taking them to the next level, building the tennis progam and adding to the Lees-McRae tennis tradition."

Highfield's previous professional tennis experience also includes the Director of Tennis positions at NSID Heron Bay Commons Tennis Club in Coral Springs, FL and at the Hawks Landing Club in Plantation, FL, as well as a three-year stint as the assistant tennis coach at Appalachian State University.

As previously mentioned, Highfield was a 10-year member of the U.S. Virgin Islands Davis Cup Team, including being named team captain seven times and was the Big Eight Tennis Champion at the University of Oklahoma in 1995. He also was a three-time participant in the Pan American Games and competed at the World University Games in Fukuoka, Japan in 1995.

A long-time native of the High Country, Highfield currently resides in Valle Crucis with his wife Rachel and their three children, Gabe, Logan, Riley. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a degree in communications.