Staff Directory
Tassilo Schmid
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- (310) 506-7544
Tassilo Schmid enters his third season as head coach of Pepperdine women's tennis in 2026-27 and ninth overall at Papperdine. He was named head coach in July 2025 after serving as interim head coach for the 2024-25 season.
In his first full season as head coach in 2025-26, the Waves reached the NCAA Quarterfinals and posted a 21-5 overall record. Schmid was named WCC Coach of the Year as Pepperdine went undefeated in conference play on the way to the WCC Championship. ``
Pepperdine held a final national ranking of No. 9 in 2025-26, having posted 13 ranked wins and five victories over top-10 opponents. The Waves knocked off sixth-ranked Oklahoma on the road in the NCAA Super Regionals after defeating UCSB and Stanford in Malibu to open the NCAA Tournament. Schmid helped guide seven Waves to all-conference accolades, including all four newcomers, as Živa Falkner claimed WCC Co-Player of the Year honors while Sonja Zhiyenbayeva was named WCC Freshman of the Year.
In Schmid's year as the interim head coach in 2024-25, the Waves won their 11th-consecutive West Coast Conference title and had four players earn All-WCC honors — all while playing with five freshmen in the lineup. Freshman Alexia Harmon earned Co-WCC Freshman of the Year honors, plus sophomore Vivian Yang and freshman Anastasiia Grechkina were first-team all-conference selections as Schmid guided the young Pepperdine roster back to the NCAA Tournament. Schmid also notched his first career women's tennis postseason win with Pepperdine's 4-1 win over Wake Forest in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
In six seasons working under Pepperdine Director of Tennis Adam Schaechterle, Schmid helped lead Pepperdine men's tennis as one of the nation's best mid-major teams. During his first five seasons, the Waves advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament three times and were been ranked in the top-25 twice. Schmid was named the ITA's Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
He was previously a volunteer assistant coach at Florida State, where he helped the Seminoles reach the NCAA Tournament in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Schmid played for two seasons for Mississippi State under former Pepperdine women's tennis coach Per Nilsson, helping lead the Bulldogs to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2015. He ranked as high as No. 63 in singles and No. 46 in doubles in 2015. He was twice named to the Academic All-SEC team and was named the ITA Southern Region’s Most Improved Player in 2015.
Prior to Mississippi State, Schmid was an All-American at Tyler Junior College, helping lead the Apaches to a national championship in 2013 and a championship appearance in 2012. He was named the Junior College Player to Watch and was the Flight 2 national champion.
A native of Stuttgart, Germany, Schmid was one of the top juniors in his age group before heading to the United States. He graduated from Mississippi State in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
In his first full season as head coach in 2025-26, the Waves reached the NCAA Quarterfinals and posted a 21-5 overall record. Schmid was named WCC Coach of the Year as Pepperdine went undefeated in conference play on the way to the WCC Championship. ``
Pepperdine held a final national ranking of No. 9 in 2025-26, having posted 13 ranked wins and five victories over top-10 opponents. The Waves knocked off sixth-ranked Oklahoma on the road in the NCAA Super Regionals after defeating UCSB and Stanford in Malibu to open the NCAA Tournament. Schmid helped guide seven Waves to all-conference accolades, including all four newcomers, as Živa Falkner claimed WCC Co-Player of the Year honors while Sonja Zhiyenbayeva was named WCC Freshman of the Year.
In Schmid's year as the interim head coach in 2024-25, the Waves won their 11th-consecutive West Coast Conference title and had four players earn All-WCC honors — all while playing with five freshmen in the lineup. Freshman Alexia Harmon earned Co-WCC Freshman of the Year honors, plus sophomore Vivian Yang and freshman Anastasiia Grechkina were first-team all-conference selections as Schmid guided the young Pepperdine roster back to the NCAA Tournament. Schmid also notched his first career women's tennis postseason win with Pepperdine's 4-1 win over Wake Forest in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
In six seasons working under Pepperdine Director of Tennis Adam Schaechterle, Schmid helped lead Pepperdine men's tennis as one of the nation's best mid-major teams. During his first five seasons, the Waves advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament three times and were been ranked in the top-25 twice. Schmid was named the ITA's Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
He was previously a volunteer assistant coach at Florida State, where he helped the Seminoles reach the NCAA Tournament in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Schmid played for two seasons for Mississippi State under former Pepperdine women's tennis coach Per Nilsson, helping lead the Bulldogs to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2015. He ranked as high as No. 63 in singles and No. 46 in doubles in 2015. He was twice named to the Academic All-SEC team and was named the ITA Southern Region’s Most Improved Player in 2015.
Prior to Mississippi State, Schmid was an All-American at Tyler Junior College, helping lead the Apaches to a national championship in 2013 and a championship appearance in 2012. He was named the Junior College Player to Watch and was the Flight 2 national champion.
A native of Stuttgart, Germany, Schmid was one of the top juniors in his age group before heading to the United States. He graduated from Mississippi State in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
