The University of Mississippi Athletics
Paloma Collantes-Hansen Named SEC Legend
1/6/2016 | Women's Tennis
OXFORD, Miss. - Former Ole Miss women's tennis All-American Paloma Collantes-Hansen is among the 2016 Class of Women's Legends featuring former student-athletes, coaches and administrators from all 14 SEC member institutions, the league office announced Wednesday.
Collantes-Hansen, along with legends from each of the other 13 member institutions, will be honored at the 2016 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida March 2-6. Each legend will be honored during halftime of their team's first game of the tournament.
"With all the amazing athletes that have played for Ole Miss throughout the years, I'm humbled to be chosen as an SEC Legend," Collantes-Hansen said. "Going to Ole Miss was the best decision I've ever made, besides marrying my husband, Michael, of course."
Collantes-Hansen (1991-94) is arguably the best player in the history of Ole Miss women's tennis. She became the first All-American in singles in 1991 and the first four-time All-American in program history. One of the highlights of her career, Collantes-Hansen won the prestigious ITA Riviera All-American Championships in the fall of 1991 and 1992, becoming the first player in program history to win a national title. A four-time All-SEC selection, Collantes-Hansen was also named the 1993 Mississippi Female Amateur Athlete of the Year. She participated in the NCAAs all four years of her career, advancing to the quarterfinals her freshman and junior years and the Final Four her senior year.
In December of 1992, Collantes-Hansen achieved the distinction of being the first Ole Miss tennis player to ever be ranked No. 1 in the nation in singles by being selected No. 1 in the ITA National Women's Singles Rankings.
Off the court, Collantes-Hansen was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and a member of the Chancellor's Honor Roll. She graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and later earned an MBA in finance from Mississippi College.
In addition to her success in college tennis, Collantes-Hansen earned a top 200 ranking in singles and a top 150 ranking in doubles on the WTA Professional Tour.
In 2000, Collantes-Hansen became the first Ole Miss women's tennis player to be inducted into The University of Mississippi M-Club Athletics Hall of Fame.
Collantes-Hansen resides in Miami with her husband Michael and is Director of Events and Business Development for Scratch Music Group.
