Staff Directory
Max Koller
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
Max Koller has joined the nationally-recognized Pepperdine men's tennis program as an assistant coach, announced on May 27, 2026 by Director of Tennis Adam Schaechterle. He will begin his first season with the Waves in 2026-27.
Koller comes to Southern California from Gainesville, Florida, where he was an assistant coach at Florida under head coach Adam Steinberg.
Koller helped Florida finish 22nd in the final team ITA rankings, just one spot behind Pepperdine, following the 2025-26 season. Under Koller's guidance, the Gators posted several signature regular season victories over ranked teams, including a 4-2 win over No. 13 Columbia and a 4-3 win over No. 16 Clemson. Florida made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Central Florida. Koller also assisted in the development of Henry Jefferson and Pablo Perez Ramos, who finished 73rd and 61st in the ITA singles rankings, respectively. Tanapatt Nirundorn and Jefferson were also among the nation's best in doubles, slotting in at No. 13 overall. Off the court, Nirundorn was named a member of the SEC Community Service Team for his work in the Gainesville community.
In his time at Florida, Koller was the primary recruiter and strategist for the transfer portal. He helped secure a highly-touted international recruit in Alaa Trifii and was also the primary coach for professional tournaments, including futures, challengers, and ATP-level events.
A 2017 graduate of Florida, Koller got his start as a student manager for the then top-ranked Gators women's tennis team. From January 2018 to June 2019, Koller served as Bethune Cookman University's assistant coach for both the men's and women's tennis programs. He then moved to Stetson and worked with the Hatters for several seasons. Along the way, he was selected to represent Stetson as one of 12 collegiate coaches in the ITA National Mentorship Program designed for the nation's best up-and-coming coaches.
Koller was a volunteer assistant at Oklahoma from 2021-22 following his tenure at Stetson. In his first year, the Sooners advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before being defeated by No. 5 Michigan, who was led at the time by Steinberg. Koller then helped the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos to a 22-4 record in the 2022-23 season before spending a year at Oklahoma State, coaching the number eight doubles pair in Tyler Zink and Isaac Becroft. Zink was also the number 15-ranked singles player. Koller helped the Cowboys to an 18-10 record, including a victory over Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in the Columbus Region, before landing at Florida the last two seasons.
Koller will work behind Schaechterle and alongside assistant coach Diego Castillo.
Koller comes to Southern California from Gainesville, Florida, where he was an assistant coach at Florida under head coach Adam Steinberg.
Koller helped Florida finish 22nd in the final team ITA rankings, just one spot behind Pepperdine, following the 2025-26 season. Under Koller's guidance, the Gators posted several signature regular season victories over ranked teams, including a 4-2 win over No. 13 Columbia and a 4-3 win over No. 16 Clemson. Florida made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Central Florida. Koller also assisted in the development of Henry Jefferson and Pablo Perez Ramos, who finished 73rd and 61st in the ITA singles rankings, respectively. Tanapatt Nirundorn and Jefferson were also among the nation's best in doubles, slotting in at No. 13 overall. Off the court, Nirundorn was named a member of the SEC Community Service Team for his work in the Gainesville community.
In his time at Florida, Koller was the primary recruiter and strategist for the transfer portal. He helped secure a highly-touted international recruit in Alaa Trifii and was also the primary coach for professional tournaments, including futures, challengers, and ATP-level events.
A 2017 graduate of Florida, Koller got his start as a student manager for the then top-ranked Gators women's tennis team. From January 2018 to June 2019, Koller served as Bethune Cookman University's assistant coach for both the men's and women's tennis programs. He then moved to Stetson and worked with the Hatters for several seasons. Along the way, he was selected to represent Stetson as one of 12 collegiate coaches in the ITA National Mentorship Program designed for the nation's best up-and-coming coaches.
Koller was a volunteer assistant at Oklahoma from 2021-22 following his tenure at Stetson. In his first year, the Sooners advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before being defeated by No. 5 Michigan, who was led at the time by Steinberg. Koller then helped the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos to a 22-4 record in the 2022-23 season before spending a year at Oklahoma State, coaching the number eight doubles pair in Tyler Zink and Isaac Becroft. Zink was also the number 15-ranked singles player. Koller helped the Cowboys to an 18-10 record, including a victory over Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in the Columbus Region, before landing at Florida the last two seasons.
Koller will work behind Schaechterle and alongside assistant coach Diego Castillo.
