Washington University in St. Louis

Paige Madara '13 was named the Head Coach of WashU Women's Tennis in October 2020. Madara arrived at WashU after spending four seasons as the men and women’s head coach at Grinnell College. She also served as an assistant professor in the physical education department.

In 2025, Madara led the Bears to the program's first-ever National Championship. WashU hosted a regional, defeating Grinnell and Kenyon to advance to the finals site.In the Elite 8 match, the Bears beat defending national champion UChicago 4-3 to advance to the program's first-ever national semifinal.

In the national semifinal, the Bears beat No. 9 Johns Hopkins 4-1 and went on to defeat No. 3 Pomona-Pitzer 4-3 in the title match. First-year Caitlin Bui was named an All-American in both singles and doubles while sophomore Eleanor Archer picked up All-American honors in doubles.

Bui was named the ITA National Rookie of the Year, marking the second time in program history a Bear earned this honor. Junior Eliana Hanna became the first person in program history to win the ITA National Player to Watch award.

Bui earned All-UAA Rookie of the Year honors as well as picking up a first team nod for both No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles. Archer also earned a spot on the first team for No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles. Hanna earned a spot on the second team for No. 3 singles and an honorable mention for No. 3 doubles. First-year Ally Lin was named to the second team for No. 4 singles and earned an honorable mention for No. 3 doubles. Madara and assistant coach Erin Swaller were named UAA Coaching Staff of the Year.

In 2024, Madara guided the Bears to the NCAA Elite Eight and a program record national ranking of No. 7. She was named the ITA Central Region Coach of the Year and the ITA National Coach of the Year in 2024.

During the 2024 season, the Bears earned numerous awards. Eleanor Archer was named UAA Rookie of the Year, only the second player in program history to receive the honor. Eliana Hanna and Amber Edmonds were named UAA First Team Doubles. Eleanor Archer, Karen Gao, and Eliana Hanna were all named UAA Second Team Singles, while Amber Edmonds picked up a UAA Honorable Mention in Singles and Gao/Archer earned UAA Second Team Doubles.

The team’s success continued in the fall of 2024, with Caitlin Bui and Eleanor Archer reaching the ITA Central Regional final to advance to the ITA Cup.

WashU has hosted the fall ITA Regionals twice in Madara's time. In 2023, Amber Edmonds and Eliana Hanna reached the doubles semifinal and Edmonds won the singles backdraw. In 2022, Karen Gao reached the singles semifinal and Gao/Eliana Hanna reached the doubles semifinal.

In the classroom, the Bears have earned ITA Team Academic Awards each year with numerous student-athletes earning ITA Scholar-Athlete honors.

In 2021, Ally Persky earned the Elite 90 Award - an award that is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.

While at Grinnell, Madara held a 138-43 overall record (63-21 women, 75-22 men) and was named the Midwest Conference (MWC) Coach of the Year five times after leading her squads to six MWC team championships and 33 individual titles. 

Her teams earned four trips to the NCAA Division III Tennis Championships and advanced to the NCAA Second Round three times.

Madara served as the assistant coach for women’s tennis at Washington and Lee University from 2015-16 and guided two individuals to the NCAA tournament where one earned All-America honors. 

As the women’s tennis assistant coach at WashU (2013-15), the team earned a No. 8 national ranking in 2014 and No. 13 ranking the following season. She helped three players to All-America honors. 
  
As a player for the Bears from 2009-13, Madara finished with 98 singles and doubles wins and propelled her team to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the second time in school history in 2013. 
  
A team captain, Madara was also an ITA Scholar-Athlete and a University Athletic Association selection while earning a spot on the league’s Presidents Council Scholar-Athlete team. 
 
Madara earned two degrees from WashU, including a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2013 and master’s degree in social work with a mental health concentration in 2015.