Joe Walters enters his 40th season as Grove City College head men's tennis coach.

Under his direction, the Grove City program has emerged as one of the region's finest. He has compiled a 346-132 record in 39 years as Grove City's men's tennis coach.

Last season, Walters guided Grove City to its 21st straight Presidents' Athletic Conference championship and the program's first undefeated regular season since 1965.

Grove City earned its first-ever invitation to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in 2011 and the Wolverines advanced to the regional semifinals. Walters earned PAC Coach of the Year recognition for the sixth straight season.

Grove City also recorded its 13th consecutive winning season in 2010. In all, he has guided the Wolverines to 22 winning seasons over the last 23 years; the lone exception being an 8-8 mark in 1999.

Grove City squads have also excelled in the classroom. In each of the last four years, the Wolverines earned the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Team Academic Award.

Jeremy Dwyer earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2008 and again in 2009 after receiving Academic All-District in 2007.

Walters is also in his 16th season as associate athletic director at the College. As associate athletic director, he is the athletic department's compliance coordinator.

He also is in his sixth season as Grove City's women's tennis coach, having guided the Wolverines to five NCAA Tournament berths.

A native of Lewistown, Pa., Walters spent 24 seasons as an assistant football coach at Grove City. He came to Grove City College in 1972 as an instructor of physical education. He then earned promotion to associate professor in 1978. In 2009, the College promoted him to full professor.

Walters graduated from Slippery Rock State College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and recreation. As a senior defensive lineman on Slippery Rock's football team, he earned Team MVP.

He also earned his master's of education degree in 1972 at Slippery Rock. In September 2007, Slippery Rock inducted him into its Athletic Hall of Fame for his distinguished career in athletics.

A veteran of the United States Army Honor Guard, Walters lives in Grove City with his wife, Diana. They have two adult children and two grandchildren.