The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel All-American Returns to Ole Miss
9/20/2017 | Women's Tennis
OXFORD, Miss. â€" Nearly 10 years after completing an All-American career at Ole Miss, Robbye Poole returns to the Rebels as an assistant coach for the women's tennis team, head coach Mark Beyers announced Tuesday.
Poole replaces long-time associate head coach Jason Ontog, who left to accept a position with the USTA.
For the last two and a half years, Poole has had a front row seat to the greatest women's tennis player in the history of the game, 23-time Grand Slam Champion Serena Williams. Poole served as Williams' hitting partner and helped her win four grand slam titles.
"I feel very blessed that Jason was here for nine years," head coach Mark Beyers said. "This program got better while Jason was here and we thank him for everything he did. Having said that, we are extremely excited to be able to bring in a former Ole Miss All-American to the staff in Robbye Poole. After his All-American career here, he got up to top 400 in the world and then obviously has been with Serena for the last two and half years.
"He brings a wealth of experience both from a playing standpoint and from a coaching standpoint and then these last couple years, he's built up plenty of connections within the tennis world that will definitely help us in recruiting."
Poole won two singles and three doubles futures titles in his playing career before retiring from playing and later becoming Williams' hitting partner.
"Robbye has learned so much the last two years from Serena and from Patrick Mouratoglou (Serena's coach). He's excited about being back in Oxford and trying to help this team win a championship. As a head coach you love hearing that," Beyers added.
"I am super excited to be back here," Poole said. "It started with Coach (Billy) Chadwick, who gave me a chance 10 years ago. I've always held Ole Miss dear to my heart and when this opportunity came up I knew I couldn't pass on it. It was a very tough decision, with what I was doing, but these type of opportunities don't come around often, especially at your alma mater.
"I had the opportunity to work with the greatest tennis player in the history of the game. It is priceless what I learned these last couple years on and off the court. It molded me into a better coach and prepared me for what I want to do now and in the future."
An All-American and two-time All-SEC honoree, Poole concluded his career helping lead Ole Miss to the SEC Tournament Championship, their seventh SEC West title, the NCAA Elite Eight and a final national ranking of No. 6.
Poole graduated from Ole Miss in 2008 with a degree in business.
What they are saying…
Patrick Mouratoglou â€" Coach of Serena Williams
"The experience we had with Robbye was very positive in many ways and very successful. He was extremely professional and determined. Robbye immediately embraced his role in the team and was always the one pushing us. His opinions on our daily training, Serena's matches and her future opponents was always very accurate and helpful. On a personal note, he was a great team player, always taking care of all the members and we all got along very well with him. Everyone already misses him!"
John Isner â€" ATP World No. 17
"Robbye is going to be a great fit for the Ole Miss women's tennis team. His work ethic and knowledge of the game is unparalleled. Robbye's credentials as a coach also speak volumes for how qualified he is. He's coached at all levels of tennis especially in the women's game. Working with Serena Williams is something not many people can say, but Robbye can. He always speaks so proudly of his time at Ole Miss and I know how excited he is to get to work in Oxford."
Poole joins fellow Ole Miss All-American Julia Jones, who is serving as the Rebels' volunteer coach, to complete the women's tennis staff.
The Rebels return six of their top seven including All-American Arianne Hartono and Natalie Suk their top two from last year. In addition, the Rebels added one of the top recruits in college tennis, Sabina Machalova.
For more information on Ole Miss Women's Tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter, @OleMissWTennis, on Facebook at OleMissWTennis and on Instagram at OleMissWTennis. Follow Coach Beyers on Twitter, @MarkBeyers.
