Dustin Hinson was named the fifth head coach in the history of the Eastern Washington women’s tennis program in January of 2013. Hinson first joined the Eagles on an interim basis before officially taking over the helm on June 20, 2015. The 2025-26 season will mark his 14th year at Eastern Washington.
2024-25, 13th season: Eastern finished 5-13 and 3-5 in the Big Sky, spearheaded by Hinson in his 13th season. Hinson’s Eagles capitalized on a solid season by dominating the Griz on the road to clinch a 6-1 win to end the season. Finishing her final season at Eastern, Isabella Foshee achieved another consecutive All-Big Sky singles honorable mention under Hinson. Hinson and his team finished the year in the classroom in perfect standings, receiving a 1000 on the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate (APR).
2023-24, 12th season: Eastern Washington finished 3-16 overall and 1-7 in the Big Sky in Hinson's 12th season leading the program. The Eagles defeated Montana, 5-2 for their first win of the spring season. Eastern won twice more at home, defeating Montana State 4-3, and Whitman College 6-1. Hinson's coaching led junior Isabella Foshee to being named an All-Big Sky Honorable mention. Success was also seen in the classroom with six student-athlethes receiving Spring Big Sky All-Academic Honors. The team was also earned a perfect Academic Progress Rate (APR) score from the NCAA.
2022-23, 11th season: Eastern Washington finished 2-6 in the Big Sky and 4-12 overall in Hinson's 11 season leading the program. The Eagles defeated Seattle U, 5-2, in the teams first matchup of the spring season. Eastern won two of its last four games of the season, starting with a 5-2 win over Montana State in Bozeman. After winning the doubles point, the Eagles had singles match wins from Jennifer Kida, Leandra Nizetic, Renata Gabuzyan and Kenzington Mann. In the team's marquee win of the season, Eastern toppled eventual Big Sky Champion Weber State, 4-3, in Cheney. The Eagles started winning the doubles point, and would win three singles matches to earn the upset. Kida, Nizetic and Mann all posted wins to power the victory for Eastern.
2021-22, 10th Season: In Hinson's tenth season leading the Eagles, the team finished with a 4-12 overall record, going 3-5 in conference play. Eastern had a stretch of three-straight victories at the end of February and early March at Jim Thorpe Fieldhouse. The Eagles would top Whitworth in a 5-2 victory and followed up with wins over Montana(4-3) and Montana State(5-2). Eastern would also pick up a 5-2 home win over Sacramento State(4/17). With Hinson's guidance, Scout Mathews earned All-Big Sky second team honors, along with a Big Sky Co-Player of the Week Honors(3/8).
The Eagles earned their sixth-straight ITA Team Academic award, with five student-athletes earning ITA Scholar-Athlete awards. Adding to the academic awards, six student-athletes received Spring Big Sky All-Academic honors.
2020-21, Ninth Season: Hinson led Eastern, in his ninth season, to a perfect 4-0 mark in Big Sky competition and an 8-9 overall record. The Eagles won the Big Sky north division for the program's first regular season title, earning the No. 1 seed and the 21st conference tournament appearance for the program. Eastern would fall in the conference semifinals to Weber State(2-4). During the regular season, the Eagles swept their conference schedule with wins over Idaho(4-3), Portland State(4-3), Montana State(4-3), and Montana(5-2). The success in the season handed four Eagles postseason honors, as Jennifer Kida was named to the All-Big Sky first team singles. Renata Gabuzyan earned an All-Big Sky singles honorable mention, while Scout Mathews and Louise Waite landed All-Big Sky doubles honorable mentions.
In the classroom, Eastern earned its fifth-straight ITA Team Academic award, along with six players earning individual ITA honors. Eight Eagles also earned Spring Big Sky All-Academic honors.
2019-20, Eighth Season: Hinson’s eighth season at the helm was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the abrupt end, the Eagles went on to finish 6-4 overall with a 4-1 mark in Big Sky Conference play. Eastern Washington started conference action 4-0 for the first time since the 2010 season. A highlight win during Big Sky play came in a 4-3 decision over Idaho for the second-straight victory over the Vandals and just the fifth in program history.
Academically, the Eagles earned their fourth-straight ITA Team Academic award and five players earned individual ITA academic recognition.
2018-19, Seventh Season: Hinson led the Eagles to a remarkable 12-10 (.545) overall record, which is the best since the 2016 season. Hinson also led the Eagles to an 8-2 mark in Big Sky play, marking the best conference record in program history. The Eagles went on to finish tied for second in the conference standings which is also the best finish in school history.
Big Sky play saw the Eagles defeat Montana State and Sacramento State for the first time in program history as well as defeating Idaho for the first time since 2006 and just the fourth time in EWU history.
Hinson coached four players to All-Big Sky honors, including the Freshman of the Year, Madeline Lamoreaux. It was the second-straight season that the Eagles boasted the Freshman of the Year award. Additionally, Lamoreaux was named to First-Team Singles and Doubles along with Rylee Braeden. Zoey Nelson was named to the Second-Team Singles and earned Second-Team Doubles with teammate Louise Waite. Braeden also earned Eastern’s first Player of the Week award since 2015.
Lamoreaux and Braeden competed at No. 1 doubles together and earned a 15-5 overall record which is third all-time in program history.
Eastern qualified for the Big Sky Tournament for the second-straight year and the third time in the last four. After being in the hunt for a regular season title, the Eagles earned a No. 4 seed at the conference championships but unfortunately fell to Southern Utah in the quarterfinals.
2017-18, Sixth Season: The Eagles finished 9-13 overall during the 2017-18 season, but had a winning Big Sky record of 6-5. They ended the regular season in a tie for fourth in the standing, marking the best finish since 2009.
Eastern earned the No. 3 seed and qualified for the conference tournament for the first time since 2016 and the second time in three seasons. Unfortunately, the season ended with a quarterfinals loss to Weber State.
Hinson coached several Eagles to All-Big Sky awards, including the program’s first Freshman of the Year in Zoey Nelson. Nelson was also named Second-Team Singles All-Big Sky. Additionally, Janaya Smith and Rylee Braeden earned First-Team All-Big Sky Doubles while Stephanie Broussard earned an Honorable Mention nod.
The Eagles were also sharp in the classroom, earning their second-consecutive ITA Team All-Academic Award with six Eagles earning an individual ITA All-Academic Award.
2016-17, Fifth Season: Eastern wrapped up the season just 5-15 overall and 3-8 in conference play. Although they missed out on the postseason, they picked up crucial road victories at Southern Utah and at Portland State while defeating North Dakota for the third-straight season.
In the classroom, five Eagles earned an ITA All-Academic Award and earned the program its first ITA Team All-Academic Award since 2006.
2015-16, Fourth Season: Hinson lifted the women’s tennis program to brand new heights during the 2015-16 season. The Eagles finished 12-11 (.522) overall, more than doubling their win total from 2014-15. The 12 victories were the most since 1985 and the second-most in program history. Additionally, the Eagles finished 6-5 in conference play, the best record in EWU history.
The Eagles qualified for the conference championships for the first time since 2010 after finishing tied for fifth in the regular season standings, also the best finish since 2010. Eastern unfortunately fell to eventual Big Sky Championship winner Idaho in the quarterfinals.
During the season, the Janaya Smith earned the program’s first Big Sky Player of the Week award since 2013. Hinson also coached doubles tandem Moira Hedberg and Erin Blessing with to a 10-2 overall record. Hedberg ended her career with 42 career singles wins which is tied for the most in program history. Faye Worrall finished the season with a 14-7 overall record in singles play, tying the program record for wins in a single season.
2014-15, Third Season: Hinson coached the Eagles to a 5-16 overall record, a two-win improvement from the previous season. The Eagles finished 2-9 in conference play. Hinson also coached Janaya Smith to a spot on the All-Big Sky Second team.
2013-14, Second Season: Eastern finished 3-18 overall and 1-9 in Big Sky play.
Despite the record, Moira Hedberg shined throughout the season and was named to the First-Team All-Big Sky for the second-straight season after compiling a 10-11 (6-4 Big Sky) record at the No. 1 singles spot. The duo of Hedberg and Erin Blessing also earned an 8-7 record in the No. 1 doubles slot, finishing 6-4 in conference play.
Eastern’s lone conference win came against Idaho State, defeating the Bengals for the 10
th-straight season.
2012-2013, First Season: Hinson guided the Eagles to a 6-16 overall record, marking the most wins since 2010. Additionally, Eastern wrapped up conference play 3-7 overall which is also the most wins since 2010.
In his first season, he coached Moira Hedberg to First-Team All-Big Sky honors, the program’s first since 2007. He also coached Kelsey Knight to an honorable mention nod. Additionally, Hedberg earned Big Sky Player of the Week for the second-straight season.
Personal:
A native of Moscow, Idaho, Hinson started playing tennis at the age of three before progressing into a top-15 junior tennis player in the Pacific Northwest. After four years of playing in United States Tennis Association tournaments, he earned a scholarship to Idaho where he competed for three years in both singles and doubles.
Hinson graduated from Idaho in 1999 with a Bachelor's degree in fishery resources. He went on to earn a Master's from Idaho in environmental science in 2003.
Hinson currently resides in Cheney with his wife, Jessica, and their six children.
Record at Eastern Washington:
|
Overall |
|
|
Conference |
|
|
|
|
| Season |
W |
L |
Pct. |
W |
L |
Pct. |
Finish |
Postseason |
| 2013 |
6 |
16 |
.273 |
3 |
7 |
.300 |
T-7th |
N/A |
| 2014 |
3 |
18 |
.143 |
1 |
9 |
.100 |
11th |
N/A |
| 2015 |
5 |
16 |
.238 |
2 |
9 |
.182 |
11th |
N/A |
| 2016 |
12 |
11 |
.522 |
6 |
5 |
.545 |
T-5th |
Big Sky Tournament (Quarterfinals) |
| 2017 |
5 |
15 |
.250 |
3 |
8 |
.273 |
T-9th |
N/A |
| 2018 |
9 |
13 |
.409 |
6 |
5 |
.545 |
T-4th |
Big Sky Tournament
(Quarterfinals) |
| 2019 |
12 |
10 |
.545 |
8 |
2 |
.800 |
T-2nd |
Big Sky Tournament
(Quarterfinals) |
| 2020 |
6 |
4 |
.600 |
4 |
1 |
.800 |
N/A |
N/A |
| 2021 |
8 |
9 |
.471 |
4 |
0 |
1.000 |
1st |
Big Sky Tournament (Semifinals) |
| 2022 |
4 |
12 |
.250 |
3 |
5 |
.375 |
7th |
N/A |
| TOTALS |
70 |
124 |
.361 |
40 |
51 |
.440 |
|
|
