Alexis Casati returns to the staff for her second season (2020-21) after joining the women's tennis staff as a volunteer coach on Aug. 16, 2019.
During the 2019-20 season, Casati helped the Mustangs to a 9-5 record (2-1 AAC) before the season was shortened due to COVID-19. Her hard work on and off the court was crucial to the impressive 6-0 start for SMU’s first year under head coach Jeff Nevolo. She helped coach athletes Jackie Nylander and Isabella Tcherkes Zade to a No. 60 doubles ranking and Nylander to a Texas Region Rookie of the Year honor.
Casati came to SMU after serving as the assistant coach at Western Michigan for two seasons. Prior to her time in Kalamazoo, Casati was a standout tennis player at the University of Illinois.
Casati helped contribute to WMU's successful 2019 season, as the team finished 12-11 overall, its best record since 2016. She also had a role in the 2018 fall recruiting class, which was the program's best class since 2014 and the largest in program history.
As a member of the Fighting Illini women's tennis program, Casati finished with an overall record of 61-46, primarily playing as No. 1 and No. 2 singles. She reached her career-high ITA singles ranking at 82 and was ranked No. 122 during her senior season. Casati was a three-time MVP and two-time captain at Illinois and was named to the All-Big Ten Team her sophomore season while being honored as Academic All-Big Ten her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. She is also tied for the Illinois freshman record for single season wins, going 30-10 overall in singles competition.
Before college, the Deerfield, Ill. native was named First-Team Illinois All-State in 2011 and placed fifth in the State Championships. Casati, a five-star recruit, was coached by her parents, Michelle and Stephen Casati, who both played tennis professionally.
