Curt Wheeler completed his 10th season as head coach of the Point Loma men's and women's tennis teams in 2024, after taking over the program in 2015.
In the 10 seasons under coach Wheeler, the Sea Lions have consistently been ranked in the top 25, despite playing one of the most difficult schedules in the challenging PacWest Conference. During his time with the Green & Gold, Wheeler has taken the teams to new heights in the NCAA. He has led both programs to the best ITA rankings as NCAA Division II members, as well as their first-ever NCAA West Regional berths.
Under Wheeler’s guidance, PLNU Men's Tennis has amassed a 103-103 record. In 2015, Andre Staab became PLNU's first-ever male NCAA Division II All-American honors, while CJ Erion was named PacWest Freshman of the Year. In 2023, Alexander Leischner became the first Sea Lion to win the ITA D2 West Regional singles title and be named PacWest Player of the Year.
In 2018, Wheeler led the PLNU men to their first-ever NCAA West Regional appearance. The Sea Lions then made their second NCAA West Regional appearance in 2023, when they hosted a regional match for the first time and were ranked first in the region for multiple weeks. The team finished third in the PacWest, its best finish since joining the conference. In 2023, Point Loma set NCAA-era program records with 18 wins and a 13-match winning streak.
His men's squad followed that up in 2024 with a second-straight NCAA West Regional appearance, marking the first time the program has made back-to-back regionals since joining the NCAA.
As the head coach of the Point Loma women’s tennis team, Wheeler has compiled a 133-84 record and led the Sea Lions to a top 25 ranking every season. In 2018, Point Loma went 18-7 and reached as high as No. 11 in the ITA national rankings after upsetting the No. 6 team in the country, Academy of Art. That same year, Carolina Cuevas became the first Sea Lion at the NCAA level to earn ITA All-American honors.
PLNU Women's Tennis qualified for the NCAA West Regional for the first time in program history in 2022 before making it two-straight regional appearances in 2023, when the team posted its best-ever PacWest finish of third place.
Then in 2024, Point Loma went on a program record 13-match winning streak before earning the No. 1 seed in the PacWest Tournament and hosting the NCAA West Regional for the first time. The Sea Lions went undefeated (11-0) at home during the regular season.
Prior to taking over the head job, Wheeler served as an assistant coach with Point Loma for one season. In 2014, Wheeler had the opportunity to learn from coach Rich Hills and his 35 years of coaching experience while assisting with both programs.
Before Wheeler was pacing the sidelines for the Sea Lions he wore the Green & Gold for four seasons. He played his collegiate tennis at Point Loma where he was named an NAIA All-American in 2009, and his 2007 season winning percentage of .846 is still the fourth-best in school history. Wheeler graduated from Point Loma in 2010 with a degree in Psychology.
| Head Coaching Career (Men's Tennis) |
| School |
Year |
Overall |
Conference Finish |
Postseason/Honors/Notes |
| Point Loma |
2015 |
12-11 |
4 |
|
| Point Loma |
2016 |
12-13 |
4 |
|
| Point Loma |
2017 |
5-19 |
7 |
|
| Point Loma |
2018 |
14-10 |
4 |
NCAA West Regional |
| Point Loma |
2019 |
9-10 |
6 |
|
| Point Loma |
2020 |
3-5 |
N/A - COVID-19 |
N/A - COVID-19 |
| Point Loma |
2021 |
6-10 |
8 |
|
| Point Loma |
2022 |
11-12 |
6 |
|
| Point Loma |
2023 |
18-4 |
3 |
NCAA West Regional |
| Point Loma |
2024 |
13-9 |
5 |
NCAA West Regional |
| Totals |
10 Seasons |
103-103 |
|
|
| Head Coaching Career (Women's Tennis) |
| School |
Year |
Overall |
Conference Finish |
Postseason/Honors/Notes |
| Point Loma |
2015 |
11-13 |
4 |
|
| Point Loma |
2016 |
10-12 |
9 |
|
| Point Loma |
2017 |
17-9 |
5 |
|
| Point Loma |
2018 |
18-7 |
6 |
|
| Point Loma |
2019 |
12-8 |
6 |
|
| Point Loma |
2020 |
6-4 |
N/A - COVID-19 |
N/A - COVID-19 |
| Point Loma |
2021 |
7-9 |
8 |
|
| Point Loma |
2022 |
19-8 |
5 |
NCAA West Regional |
| Point Loma |
2023 |
16-9 |
3 |
NCAA West Regional |
| Point Loma |
2024 |
17-5 |
3 |
NCAA West Regional |
| Totals |
10 Seasons |
133-84 |
|
|
