The University of Mississippi Athletics
Mark Beyers Named Head Women's Tennis Coach
10/4/2001 | Women's Tennis
Oct. 4, 2001
OXFORD, Miss. - Mark Beyers, who served as an assistant coach for the top 10 nationally-ranked Rebel tennis program the last six years, has been named head coach of the Lady Rebel tennis program, Ole Miss Athletics Director John Shafer announced Thursday. Beyers, the third head coach in Ole Miss women's tennis history, replaces Jerry Montgomery, who announced his retirement from collegiate tennis recently, after leading the Lady Rebels to national prominence the last 15 years.
"We are extremely excited that we had on our staff an outstanding candidate to replace Jerry Montgomery," Shafer said. "As a collegiate tennis coach, Mark Beyers brings tremendous credentials to the program, and we look forward to him continuing the excellence in Ole Miss women's tennis."
"Mark is a winner," Associate Athletic Director/Senior Women's Administrator Lynnette Johnson said. "He was one of the country's top assistant coaches, and he is ready to lead our team to the highest level. Mark wants to be at Ole Miss, and we couldn't be more excited to have him as our new head coach."
No stranger to women's tennis, Beyers, a native of Tilburg, Holland, spent three years (1992-95) as head coach of the women's tennis team at Armstrong Atlantic State in Georgia. During his three years, the team captured the NCAA Division II Championship, posted a 50-8 record and won the Peach Belt Conference each year. Beyers earned PBC Coach-of-the-Year honors in 1994 and 1995. In 1995, he received NCAA Division II South Regional Coach-of-the-Year honors. His teams ranked 10th, ninth and first respectively in the Division II national rankings.
Beyers came to Ole Miss in the fall of 1995 as the men's assistant coach. In his six years as an assistant coach with the Rebels, Ole Miss reached the final four twice (1997, 1999) and won three SEC titles (1996, 1997, 1999). In 1997, Beyers was the first recipient of the ITA Region III Assistant Coach-of-the-Year Award.
During his nine years of coaching collegiate tennis, Beyers has coached 19 All-Americans, 12 Academic All-Americans and four Academic All-America teams.
"I am very excited about the opportunity to be the head coach of the women's program at Ole Miss," Beyers said. "It's not every day that one gets to be a head coach in the best conference in the nation. The fact that it happened to me at Ole Miss where I've spent the last six years, makes it more special. Coach Montgomery has put this program on the map. I look forward to continuing that tradition.
"I've learned a lot during the last six years from coach (Billy) Chadwick and coach Montgomery on how to run an elite program at this level and be successful on and off the court. I am anxious to get started."
As a collegiate player at Armstrong Atlantic State, Beyers earned four letters, posted a 99-21 record and led his team to a national ranking of No. 4. He earned All-America honors twice in doubles and singles.
Beyers received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Armstrong Atlantic State in 1991. After graduating, Beyers enjoyed a brief professional career on the satellite tour before returning to his alma mater to coach the women's team.
In 1998, Beyers became the youngest person ever to be inducted into the Armstrong Atlantic State Athletic Hall of Fame.
"Mark will make a great head coach," Chadwick said. "His knowledge of tennis is second to none. But more important, his six years as our men's assistant coach demonstrates his loyalty to the University of Mississippi."