Walt Oden enters his fourth season as the head coach of JCU Women’s and Men’s Tennis in the 2025-26 academic year.
In his third campaign, the JCU Women's team made an appearance in the OAC Tournament Championship, while the JCU Men's squad got to the OAC Semifinal. The Women's team notched 5 All-OAC and 4 Academic All-OAC selections. The Men's squad tabbed 4 All-OAC and 3 Academic All-OAC picks.
During his second season, both the JCU Men and Women made it to the OAC Tournament. The JCU Men's squad got to the OAC Tournament Championship before falling in a narrow defeat. The Women's team tabbed 6 All-OAC and 2 Academic All-OAC selections, while the Men's team notched 5 All-OAC and 2 Academic All-OAC picks. He coached OAC Player of the Year Logan Langovsky. Both the men's and women's squads earned ITA All-Academic Team distinction.
During his first season at the helm, both programs earned spots in the OAC Tournament. JCU Men's Tennis won a share of the OAC Regular Season Championship by dramatically defeating Otterbein, 5-4, in the final match of the regular season. The Women's team tallied 5 All-OAC and 3 Academic All-OAC selections, while the Men's team notched 5 All-OAC and 1 Academic All-OAC selection.
Oden served as a volunteer assistant coach with the Blue Streaks for two seasons before taking the head reins. Oden follows in the footsteps of Shaun Keenan, who served as the head coach of John Carroll’s Tennis programs for 13 seasons. Oden worked as an assistant coach under Keenan for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, helping to steer the Blue Streaks to Ohio Athletic Conference Championships on both the men’s and women’s sides in 2021.
Oden has a wealth of tennis experience dating back several decades. A certified Elite Professional with the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), Oden currently works as the Director of Racquets at Shaker Heights Country Club. He is also a tennis professional for the Mayfield Village Racquet Club during the winter. Previously, he worked at Chagrin Valley Athletic Club from 2004-21.
Before arriving as a coach at JCU, Oden spent 12 years as the head women’s tennis coach at Laurel School. From 2007-19, Oden coached 20 OHSAA State Tournament qualifiers and multiple OHSAA runners-up. He accrued over 100 dual match at wins at Laurel and several Suburban League Coach of the Year awards when he coached the men at Hudson High School.
Oden has been a very involved member of the United State Tennis Association (USTA) with the Northeast Ohio District (NEOTA) and Midwest Section. Oden served in a variety of roles from 1997-2018, including as President, Treasurer, Competition Committee Chair, and a 20-year member of the Board of Directors.
Originally a Southern California native, Oden is a Kent State University graduate. He is also a former full-time licensed CPA. His niece, Lyla Graham ‘20, competed as a student-athlete with JCU Cross Country and Track & Field.
