Jason Ontog Named Women's Tennis Assistant Coach

OXFORD, Miss. Jason Ontog, a native of Chattanooga, Tenn., has been named Ole Miss women’s tennis assistant coach, as announced by head coach Mark Beyers Wednesday.  Ontog replaces Whitt Taber, who resigned at the end of last season.

Ontog comes to Ole Miss from Chattanooga, where he has spent the past two years as the head girls’ coach at Baylor High School.  He was named the 2007 Chattanooga Times-Free Press Best of Preps Girls’ Coach of the Year.   He also was the 2007 Tennessee Coach for the USTA Southern Junior Cup 14-18’s as well as the Southern Coach for the USTA Zone Team Championships.

Prior to his stop at Baylor High School, Ontog was the assistant pro at the Racquet Club of Memphis for three years (2004-07).

“We are really excited to add Jason to our staff,” Beyers said.  “He’s a great addition for Ole Miss Lady Rebel tennis. He has such a vast amount of experience in the game of tennis and is a very well-known figure in the Southeast as far as junior tennis is concerned.  He’ll be able to help our players both in the technical as well as tactical areas of their game, and he will make an immediate impact in recruiting.”

“I am really proud to be associated with Ole Miss and excited to be joining the program," Ontog said.  "I can’t wait to start the season and look forward to helping take Lady Rebel tennis to the next level.”

As a player, Ontog won the 1998 and 1999 TSSAA State titles at Chattanooga Christian School before going to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he earned All-Southern Conference honors all four years.  In 2000, he was named the So-Con Freshman of the Year, and in 2001 he earned So-Con Player of the Year honors.  In 2002 and 2003 Ontog won the So-Con Sportsmanship Award.  He earned a career-high national ranking of No. 68 in singles, while playing the No. 1 position for the Mocs.   

He served as an assistant coach for the UTC women’s team for a year after graduating in 2004.

The Lady Rebels return four players from the 2008 season, (including All-SEC honoree Karen Nijssen) and will welcome the nation’s No. 12 recruiting class in August.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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