Bio

Having spent the past three seasons at Cowley College as an assistant tennis coach to her brother, Manuel Raga, Arianna Raga-Simoes will now take over the reins to the Tiger tennis teams as she was recently named the program’s new head coach.

Manuel Raga and Arianna teamed to lead the 2023 Tiger men’s tennis team to its first national championship in 32 years, while the 2023 Lady Tiger tennis team’s national runner-up finish was the best in program history.

With Manuel Raga recently leaving Cowley to take an assistant coaching position with the University of Oklahoma men’s tennis team, Arianna was chosen out of a group of applicants to be the next head coach of the Tiger tennis teams.

After spending the past three seasons as an assistant at Cowley, Arianna is thrilled and eager to embark on this exciting chapter with the teams.

“Over the years, I have cultivated a deep passion for our tennis program and honed my coaching skills, gaining invaluable experience working alongside my brother Manny,” Arianna said. “Cowley has always been home to me, and I am prepared to lead with enthusiasm, dedication, and commitment to nurture each player’s potential. I am ready to inspire and guide our athletes as we work tirelessly to push the boundaries of our potential and continue to have championship-winning teams.” 

Before coaching, Raga-Simoes played No. 3 singles and doubles for the Lady Tiger tennis team during the 2012 season. Her solid play helped lift the Lady Tigers to a fourth-place national finish.

After spending a redshirt season at Cowley during the 2013 season, Raga-Simoes went on to play three seasons at NCAA Division II Newman University in Wichita, KS. At Newman, she played No. 2 doubles, was a team captain, and was named a Heartland Conference Player of the Week recipient. She helped the Lady Jets achieve their highest national finish in the program’s history.

After a stellar playing career, she returned to Cowley to join her brother as coach of the Cowley College tennis teams.

Cowley College athletic director Jeff Fluty is looking forward to having Raga-Simoes continue the success of the Tiger tennis teams.

“Anytime you can promote from within a program, it brings a great feeling of satisfaction,” Fluty said. “Coach Arianna has been a player here in the program, served as an excellent assistant coach, and now head coach. She will continue the tradition of excellence and pride of success that is Cowley Tiger athletics.”