.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
On Serve: Toby Hansson
11/13/2014 | Men's Tennis
Now that the fall season has ended, OleMissSports.com caught up with Ole Miss men's tennis head coach Toby Hansson to talk about the first semester under new leadership, key returnees, the freshmen, rules changes and the impact of the football team's success.
The Rebels begin the spring season Jan. 8-10 at the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational. The first dual match is Jan. 16 at Central Florida, followed by the ITA Kick-Off Weekend at Florida Jan. 24-25.
Q: So has it been a smooth transition from your position the past eight years to being the head coach now?
A: It has, but I'm still learning new things every day on the job. It's definitely a big change, but I'm learning as I go. I'm familiar with the people, so I'm very comfortable here. Obviously the people around the program are very supportive, so I'm just looking forward to the future and building the program even further.
Q: Now that the fall season has wrapped up, what did you learn about the team, and what areas did they make the biggest improvements in?
A: What I've learned is that they're eager to learn. I feel like they've bought into the training that we're putting them through. They're excited to get better and learn the things that we're trying to teach them every day. They are focused every day in practice and take conditioning seriously. They're starting to show that they are getting better with each tournament. They are a very coachable group.
Q: What has the team made the biggest improvement in?
A: I feel like everybody is in a much better place, physically and mentally, because they all believe in themselves and what their bodies can do when they're out there on the court. Their understanding of the game has grown, too. Each player has worked very hard on individual skills that they have to do to be ready for the matches.
Q: Which players, specifically, have made the biggest strides from last year to this year?
A: Everybody has made great strides, but I want to single out a few guys. Ricardo Jorge has made some big improvements. Stefan Lindmark has really worked very hard, as has the whole team. As a coach, it's great to see all of the guys improving towards the end of the fall semester.
Q: What have you seen in terms of leadership from guys like William Kallberg and Stefan Lindmark?
A: They're doing a great job, and really buying into the practices. Stefan and William are probably the two guys who have really led by example.
Q: What did you see from the freshmen, Gustav Hansson and Zvonimir Babic this fall?
A: I'm very impressed with both of those guys. Zvonimir has a great work ethic and gets after it every day in practice. Gustav is one of the most improved players we have, and I love both of their attitudes.
Q: What areas will the team work on with this time off until January when the spring season starts?
A: We have some individual practices a few times a week, but thankfully we have laid the foundation for them to make that next leap going forward.
Q: For those who don't understand how the tennis season works, what is the main emphasis for the fall season, leading up to the spring?
A: It's really important to get everyone to bond, buy in to the team concept. We have to make sure we teach the younger guys what it means to be a part of a team, working together and having some fun at the same time.
Q: Can you comment on some of the rules changes that took place this fall, like no-ad scoring? Are you in favor of it, and how does it change the college game?
A: Personally, I was a little hesitant at first. I've always been somewhat of traditionalist when it comes to tennis rules, but it certainly makes the matches more exciting. You just have to embrace it though, because it makes the matches more electric, and reduces the margin for error even more. Now that I've seen how it affects the game, I'm all for it.
Q: With the success of the football team this season and Ole Miss being on a national stage, has that helped you with recruiting?
A: Absolutely. We've had a few recruits in for the football games and they were blown away by the atmosphere.
Players Mentioned
