Kyle Fodness took the reins of the Beaver Women's Tennis team from his father, Mark, after being named the head coach on August 19, 2019.
During the 2021-22 season, Fodness led the Beavers to a .500 record, going seven-and-seven in overall play and four-and-seven in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. The Beavers began the season with a double-header sweep over University of Wisconsin - River Falls and Concordia University. The Beavers were back-and-forth between the win and loss columns throughout the season, but ended with a 4-3 win at Minnesota State University Moorhead to finish the 2021-22 campaign. The Beavers held a three-game win streak from Feb. 19 until an Apr. 2 match, where they feel to University of Sioux Falls.
During his initial season leading the program, Fodness and the Beavers finished the shortened 2020 season 7-7. BSU got off to a 4-1 start in the fall and finished with three wins over the final four matches before the season was canceled due to COVID-19. Senior Hannah Alme led the Beavers from the No. 2 spot after finishing the season 9-5 in singles play, 8-5 in the No. 2 spot, and 6-3 in conference singles play. Sophomore Laney Rutkowski went 11-3 on the season in singles play, including an 8-0 mark in the No. 5 spot. Four student-athletes were named to the 2020 Spring NSIC All-Academic Team with three selections to the All-Academic Team of Excellence.
A native of Bemidji, Minn. Fodness is a teacher within the Bemidji School District and is also in his first season the head coach of Bemidji High School girl’s tennis team after four years coaching the Bemidji Middle School girl’s program, while he has coached the BMS boy’s tennis team for the last five seasons. In addition, he has been the Offseason Development Coordinator of the Bemidji Summer Youth Tennis program for the past seven years.
Fodness also spent three seasons (2016-18) as a volunteer assistant coach at BSU, which included three 10-win seasons and the program’s winningest season on record—12 wins in a 2018 season which concluded with a four-place finish in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular-season standings.
As a coach at Bemidji High School, Fodness generated a presence for the Lumberjacks in the section. In 2022, the BHS boys tennis program tabbed a 9-0 record, adding those nine wins to Fodness’ total record of 73-9. 2021 saw the BHS boys and girls programs going 15-4 and 20-4, respectfully, with both teams earning the Section 8AA Champions title and Fodness earning the Section 8AA Coach of the Year honors. The Lumberjack girls program also tabbed the section championship in 2020 with a 13-1 record. Both programs also earned Academic All-State “Gold” under Fodness’ direction.
A 2015 graduate of Bemidji State, Fodness was a collegiate student-athlete himself. After participating in four sports at Bemidji High School, he attended the University of Minnesota and competed as a place-kicker for the Golden Gophers in 2012 and 2013. He transferred home in 2014 and kicked for the BSU football team. During that season he played in 11 games and led the team in scoring (42 pts), converted 27-of-32 extra-point attempts, made five field goals with a long of 38 yards, and posted a team-best 57.4 yards per kickoff.
