Brenda Joiner came to Henderson State in 1993 as head tennis coach and assumed the duties as women’s cross country coach in 1995. She begins her 29th year as tennis coach and 27th as cross country coach in 2020-21.
As Henderson’s tennis coach, Joiner’s teams have qualified for the conference tournament 21 of 23 years and advanced to NCAA Tournament in 1997.
In her 25 years, Joiner has coached over 40 players who have earned all-conference honors, and more than 80 players that have been members of the Academic All-Conference Team.
In 2017, Joiner's tennis team won its first ever match at the Great American Conference Tournament, defeating Southern Nazarene 5-4 to advance to the GAC Semifinals.
Joiner’s 2016 women’s tennis team earned the Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team award while six Reddies earned the ITA-Scholar Athlete award. Henderson had a combined grade point average of 3.66 during the 2015-16 academic year with all eight Reddie student-athletes recording a 3.00 or better grade point average. Six players earned the ITA Scholar-Athlete Award including Sara Griffin, Amanda Korinihona, Maddie, McJunkins, Sydnee Parker, Alexandria Cuello Morillo and Annie Shannon.
The 2016 Reddies finished the year with a 10-10 record and a 3-4 mark in GAC play. Annie Shannon earned GAC Player of the Year honors after compiling a 15-2 record at No. 1 singles. Sydnee Parker earned Freshman of the Year honors posting a 13-3 record at No. 3 singles including a perfect 7-0 mark in GAC play. Shannon earned the same Freshman of the Year award in 2015.
She coached Carrie Freeman who is the only player in HSU history to earn First-Team All-Gulf South Conference honors four straight seasons, as well as Annie Shannon, who was a four-time First-Team All-Great American Conference selection from 2015 to 2018.
Joiner’s cross country teams have won numerous meets throughout her 21 years as head coach.
Joiner’s teams also participate in the Race For the Cure in Little Rock and Texarkana with her players often finishing in the top 5 each year.
Joiner graduated from Henderson in 1979, earning her B.S. in Business Management. While at Henderson, she played tennis under HSU legendary coach Bettye Wallace.
A 1976 graduate of Gurdon High School where she played both tennis and basketball, Joiner’s great uncle is the legendary Duke Wells, HSU former longtime coach and athletic director.
Joiner has two children, Reid Joiner and Leah Joiner Seale.
