Lawrence University

Steve Francour took charge of the men's and women's tennis programs at Lawrence University in July 2013 and has made the Vikings contenders in the Midwest Conference.

A native of South Milwaukee, Wis., Francour has more than 500 dual match victories to his credit. Francour has led both of Lawrence's teams to appearances in the Midwest Conference Tournament. The men's team went four consecutive seasons from 2016 through 2019 and posted a second-place finish in 2019.

Francour was chosen as Midwest Conference Men's Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2017.

The Vikings also have been stars in the classroom during Francour's tenure. Both of Lawrence's teams have been won the Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team award in every one of Francour's seasons at Lawrence. Francour has had 76 players, 39 men and 37 women, earn the ITA Scholar Athlete award since 2013.

Francour came to Lawrence from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he was the men's and women's tennis coach for 23 seasons.

On the women's side, Francour had a record of 156-150 in 23 seasons at UW-Oshkosh. Francour guided the Titans to three runner-up finishes and two third places in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He received the league's Coach of the Year honor in 2011 after UW-Oshkosh compiled a 9-8 record.Francour's 2000 team set the UW-Oshkosh season record with 14 wins, and Jennifer Pekulik represented the Titans at the NCAA Division III Championships after going 16-3 at No. 1 singles.

Francour coached seven conference singles champions, four doubles champions and three WIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year winners. The Titans also had 35 players named to the ITA All-Academic Team during Francour's tenure.

During his 23 seasons at UW-Oshkosh, Francour's men's teams posted a 240-239 record. Despite the fact that the UW-Oshkosh men's program competed as an independent, Francour guided the Titans to the NCAA Division III Tournament in 1996, 1997 and 2001.UW-Oshkosh posted double-digit victories 14 times under Francour, including 10 consecutive winning seasons from 1994-2003. Francour also had 30 of his men's players selected for the ITA All-Academic Team.

Francour earned a bachelor's degree in sports management from UW-Oshkosh in 1988 and his master's degree in sports administration from Baylor University in 1989.

Francour has been the head tennis professional at the Oshkosh Country Club since 1993 and at the Butte des Morts Country Club since 2008. He also has been the director of tennis at the Oshkosh YMCA Tennis Center since 1998. Francour is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association and was the USTA Specialist in Competitive Player Development during 2002.

Francour and his wife, Patty, have a son, Cade, and live in Oshkosh, Wis. Cade Francour is a 2020 graduate of Lawrence and starred in tennis for the Vikings. Cade Francour was a Phi Beta Kappa, Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar Athlete and Academic All-Midwest Conference. Cade Francour ranks in the top 10 in Lawrence history in victories.