A Global Game
Nick Gruber
Beck Roghaar has been at the helm of the Bronco women’s tennis team since 2010. In the midst of his 15th year, more than half of the athletes he has coached have come from outside of the United States.
Roghaar first came to Boise from Utah in 2001 as a student-athlete on the men’s tennis team. At the age of 19, his eyes were opened to the global nature of the game of tennis.
“As a sophomore, I was the only American on the team,” said Roghaar. “Seeing and spending time with guys from Egypt, France, Peru, Sweden, all over, was so different. It was eye opening as a 19-year-old, and I realized, ‘Oh, hold on, this is cool.’ Learning about their cultures more deeply was really valuable.”
“When I was a young coach, I would think that everybody understood what I was saying,” Roghaar explained. “I’d see my players nodding and would think, ‘Okay, cool, they’ve got it.’ But then we’d go out and play, and what we had just talked about wasn’t happening on the court.”
Small lessons like these have helped develop Roghaar’s coaching strategies into what they are today, including using more simplistic terminology.
“I try to say things as simply as possible, which actually lends itself to being more understandable for everybody, not just the international athletes,” Roghaar said. “Sometimes it's easy to get deep into the jargon and lose people. I find myself looking for the simplest explanations.”
That adaptability has also helped Roghaar’s recruiting philosophy. Over time, he’s learned how to blend the contrasting play styles of domestic and international athletes into a cohesive unit. The game overseas is very different at the junior level—players compete in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior tour, gaining valuable experience traveling to play against different types of opponents and surfaces. By the time they reach college, they’ve been tested in different ways than domestic players, making them valuable additions to Boise State’s roster.
“We look for the maturity that comes from the experience,” said Roghaar. “The ITF tour builds those things, and they’ve seen it all. They’ve done a lot of the things that they will need to do when they come to college.
When players arrive on campus, they not only have to adjust to college tennis, but also to a new team dynamic. Blending these different backgrounds isn’t always seamless, but Roghaar sees it as an opportunity rather than a challenge.
“There’s things to be learned on both sides,” Roghaar explained. “A lot of times the American juniors have this grittiness, and know it's okay to be loud on the court because they’ve seen college tennis. Whereas on the ITF Junior Tour, it’s different. I think that the two types of players complement each other when you can mesh them together. The result is a finished product that has it all.”
After determining an international player’s skill on the court, there is also the responsibility to create an environment that students from thousands of miles away feel comfortable living in. Many are making their first trips to America, coming to live in a foreign place and leaving their friends and families behind. Building trust between himself, the player, and the program is a crucial part of the recruiting process.
The family connection that Roghaar has created with Boise State sets his program apart and is something that he prides himself on.
“When we’re talking with a parent of a player that's going to be thousands of miles away from home, we mean it when we say we’re going to look after their kid while they’re here. It’s a common promise, but we really do operate as a family.”
While many coaches promise this level of care, every player who has competed under Beck can attest that he truly delivers.
“Being away from home is hard. It wasn’t that I didn’t miss my family, but when your team becomes your family, it makes that transition a lot easier. The community that Beck has built was also invaluable. There are so many people in the program that support you on the court, but also care about you off the court too.”Sandy Vo, an Australia native and former Bronco from 2010-14.
“The minute he picked me up at the airport when I first arrived in Boise, he welcomed me with open arms. From that day on, he always did everything he could to make sure I was my happiest and that I felt like I had a second family here in Boise.”Shauna Heffernan, an Ireland native, former student athlete from 2020-24 and current assistant coach.
To help players feel at home, Roghaar incorporates traditions that celebrate their diverse backgrounds. Potluck dinners, where players share dishes from their home countries, and annual retreats allow them to bond beyond the court. During these retreats, Roghaar introduces the five ‘H’s, a philosophy he credits to long-time Boise State men’s basketball coach Leon Rice.
“The five ‘H’s stand for heroes, highlights, hardships, hopes and heritage,” Roghaar said. “We talk about that last one a lot. Where you came from, what was the culture like, how did the tennis circuits operate, what were your relationships with your coaches like.”
These stories help players find a common bond with each other and realize that at the core, everyone has more in common than they might think.
“My experience at Boise State was unique as seven out of my eight teammates were also international,” explained Holly Stewart, New Zealand native and Bronco tennis player from 2019-23. “We were all in the same boat, so we had one another to lean on but Coach Beck was very eager to learn more about our cultures and where we each came from. This was very refreshing compared to other coaches.”
“Beck knew how to support us international athletes and also encouraged everybody to support and help each other," added Pauline Ernstberger, Germany native and member of the tennis team from 2020-24.
These shared experiences amongst the athletes not only helped one another, but also has been a major gift to Roghaar. He’s learned more about different playstyles around the globe, has increased his knowledge about the game, and most importantly of all, how to bridge people with differences together.
Roghaar’s impact extends beyond the court. While building a strong team culture is essential, he also ensures his athletes thrive academically—a possible challenge for those unfamiliar with the American education system.
In 14 full seasons, he has coached 12 ITA All-Academic Team Awards, 67 All-Academic Individuals, 76 Academic All-Conference Student Athletes, and maintained a 100% graduation success rate.
As his athletes leave the program, Roghaar hopes to have helped teach them how to reach their goals.
“Whether they stay here or go home, teaching them the process of learning how to be successful is what matters most to me. The wins, the losses, the hard work, I hope they leave with the blueprint of what it takes to be successful, how to believe in the people around you, empower them, and respect and love them. That always helps us get to where we want to go. There’s no bad days when you do it that way.”
The connection between student athletes and coach Roghaar never ends when their time as a player ends. Roghaar truly embodies the phrase, ‘Once a Bronco, always a Bronco.’
“I hear from former players basically every day. It sounds like a cliche, but it is amazing. I take a lot of pride and really feel awesome when I hear from somebody that I was coaching four, five, six years ago, and they’re like ‘Hey, I just got this new job, or I’m getting married,’ or any other big life event.”Beck Roghaar
For some, Boise State becomes more than just a stop on their journey—it becomes home. Shauna Heffernan, who played under Roghaar for four seasons, is proof of that. In 2024, she remained with the program, not as a player, but as a coach.
“My decision to stay here and wanting to join the coaching staff was a no brainer,” said Heffernan. “Working with Beck and learning from him is an absolute dream, and I can’t even put into words how grateful I am to have him in my life and to be here right now.”
Roghaar has led the team to a strong start this season, opening with seven straight wins and securing a 7-0 record for the first time since the 1991-92 season. The Broncos, now 8-2, will look to close out their non-conference schedule on Sunday, March 9, against Utah Tech on Senior Day. The match is set to take place at Appleton Tennis Center at 11 a.m. MT.