Bio
Cullen Dees joined the Kansas tennis staff in August of 2023 and brings over 10 years of coaching and playing experience to head coach Todd Chapman’s staff.
Dees spent the previous four years at the University of Texas – San Antonio (UTSA), where he served as the Roadrunners’ Associate Head Coach. During the 2022-23 season, Dees helped the Roadrunners to the program’s first Doubles Regional Champions, defeating No. 24 Texas A&M, No. 13 Baylor and No. 3 TCU. UTSA reached a No. 6 National ranking in the Fall of 2022 and was a Quarterfinalist at the ITA Fall National. The Roadrunners finished with an 18-7 overall record during the 2022-23 season, the most wins in program history, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in program history.
In 2021-22, Dees helped UTSA to a first-round win in the C-USA Tournament for only the second time history. Over a two-year stretch (2020-22) UTSA had its fewest losses over a two-year span.
Prior to his time at UTSA, Dees served as the Interim Assistant Coach and Volunteer Assistant Coach at the University of Texas from 2017-19 and was previously the Head Tennis Coach at the University of the Ozarks from 2015-17. While at Texas, Dees helped the Longhorns to the 2018-19 National Champion, Big 12 Championship and No. 1 National team ranking.
Dees spent the previous three seasons at Schreiner University as the assistant men’s and women’s coach. In just one year, Dees helped elevate Schreiner to among the best tennis teams within the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC), highlighted by an undefeated conference record (4-0) on the women’s side in 2015, and an appearance in the conference tournament finals. The men’s team finished with a 3-1 conference mark and advanced all the way to the semifinals of the SCAC Tournament in 2015. During his time at Schreiner, the men’s team posted three straight winning seasons in conference play. A combined 22 women’s and men’s players received all-conference honors during his tenure.
Dees was a four-year standout player for Hardin-Simmons University from 2009-2012, achieving all-conference all four seasons. He also made the ASC All-Academic Team during his collegiate career. Dees received his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Hardin-Simmons in 2012.