University of Wisconsin - Stout

Coach Bob Salt

Bob SaltBob Salt begins his first year as the head coach of the UW-Stout tennis team.

Salt, who has been an instructor at Stout since 1987 in the Human Development and Family Studies program, is beginning his first stint as a collegiate coach, but has been either a tennis pro, high school coach or tennis instructor since his collegiate days at the University of Maine in Orono, Maine. Salt was a four-year varsity player for the Black Bears, playing No. 1 doubles for three years. Salt played No. 6 through No. 2 varsity singles throughout his career.

Salt has been a head coach at Orono, Maine, High School, and Central Catholic High School in Lafayette, Ind., and an assistant coach at Bangor, Maine, High School. In addition to providing private lessons for the past 25-plus years, Salt has been a tennis pro at Lafayette Tennis Club in Lafayette, Ind., at Elk's Country Club in West Lafayette, Ind., and Blue Hill Country Club in Blue Hill, Maine.

Contact Information:

  • saltb@uwstout.edu
  • 715-232-2521
  • 218 Home Ec Building
"When I started at Stout 20 years ago, I hoped to some day coach one of Stout's tennis teams," Salt said. Getting a chance to coach the women's team is a great joy for me. What adds to my excitement is that this fall's team is so strong.

"I hope my background as a player and coach, along with my academic knowledge of human development and interpersonal dynamics will assist the players to maximize their level of play."

Salt completed a double major at the University of Maine, earning bachelor degrees in Politcal Science and Broadcasting/Film. He earned his masters from the University of Maine in Child Development and Family Relations and his doctorate from Purdue University in Child Development and Family Studies.

Since arriving at Stout in 1987, Salt has taught Family Studies, Family Relations, Family Law, Family Theories, Lifespan Sexuality, Gender and Relationships, an Honors Seminar in Human Development and a number of other classes.

Named one of UW-Stout's Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 2005, Salt was a Dahlgren Professor in 2002-04, where he traveled to Kenya and Peru for research, and received Stout's School of Home Economics Teaching Excellence Award in 1992. Salt was the program director of the Human Development and Family Studies Program from 1992-99, the department chair of Human Development and Family Studies and an associate dean for the College of Human Development from January 2006 to August 2007.

A native of Acton, Mass, Salt is an avid Boston Red Sox fan. He and his wife, Ann, a Menomonie native, reside in Menomonie and are the parents of two high school age children, Josh and Emily.

Assistant Coach Mike Kneer

Mike KneerMike Kneer begins his third year as an assistant coach for the Blue Devils. Kneer recently retired from the nearby Boyceville School District where he taught math. A UW-Eau Claire graduate and Menomonie resident, Kneer has been a mainstay on the local tennis circuit where he has played since moving to the Menomonie area in 1979. Kneer was a member of the Menomonie 4.0 Team Tennis, where he said "they had some success. I look at tennis as a great way to stay fit and have fun," Kneer added. Kneer lives in Menomonie with his wife, Becky.