Bio

Mike Bonnell was the men's tennis coach for six seasons at Ohio Northern University from 2017-2022.

He also served as interim head women's tennis coach in the spring of 2022.

Bonnell, the first full-time men's tennis coach in program history, is an ONU alumnus who played for the Polar Bears from 1990-1992. 

In 15 seasons as a men's tennis coach, Bonnell boasts a 196-99 overall record, including a 73-41 mark in six seasons at Ohio Northern. With his six seasons as a women's tennis coach added, Bonnell has a 270-163 overall collegiate coaching record.

Bonnell's 2021-22 men's team posted a school single-season record for wins, finishing with a 23-5 record, including a 6-0 mark in the Ohio Athletic Conference, and won the OAC regular season and tournament championships. In the ensuing 2022 NCAA Division III Tournament, the Polar Bears defeated Grove City (Pa.) before falling to No. 2 Case Western Reserve.

Bonnell was subsequently named the OAC Coach of the Year.

Since arriving at Ohio Northern, Bonnell has coached 22 All-OAC honorees, 19 Academic All-OAC selections and the 2018-19 OAC Player of the Year, Vinh Thai.

As interim head women's tennis coach at ONU in 2021-22, Bonnell led the Polar Bears to an 11-5 record over the final 16 games of the season, which included a 6-1 mark in conference play. Northern advanced to the OAC Tournament finals and finished as the runner-up to Otterbein. ONU finished the season at 19-7 overall with six All-OAC selections and two Academic All-OAC honorees.

Bonnell came to ONU after serving as the head men's tennis coach at Methodist (N.C.) University, where he compiled an 80-27 record from 2011-15.

He was named the USA South Coach of the Year in 2014 after leading MU to a 19-7 record and an appearance in the USA South Conference Tournament finals. He coached one USA South Player of the Year, one Rookie of the Year, and a total of 20 all-conference honorees. He was the Men's Tennis Chair of the USA South Conference and a member of the Atlantic South Regional Ranking Committee and NCAA National Ranking Committee.

Prior to coaching at Methodist, Bonnell spent six seasons at the helm of the Ohio Dominican men's and women's tennis programs. During his tenure with the Panthers, Bonnell led the teams to postseason play every year and produced five nationally-ranked players. In 2005, he was named the American Mideast Conference South Division Women's Coach of the Year.

In addition to his collegiate coaching duties, Bonnell is a USPTA certified Elite Tennis Professional and has served as Director of Tennis for the Village of Pinehurst, Head Tennis Professional at Little Turtle Country Club and Assistant Head Professional at the New Albany Tennis Center.

Bonnell earned a bachelor's degree in communications/public relations from Ohio Northern, where he competed on the men's tennis team and was ranked nationally as high as No. 9 in doubles play. 

He won the OAC title at No. 1 doubles three consecutive seasons from 1990-92 and currently ranks fourth all-time with an .851 winning percentage (40-7) in doubles play at ONU.

Bonnell's Men's Tennis Coaching Record

Bonnell's Women's Tennis Coaching Record