The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Tennis
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
- Year at Ole Miss:
- Second
- E-mail:
- bbolton@olemiss.edu
- Phone:
- 662-915-7809
- Alma Mater:
- UT-Chattanooga
Brad Bolton was hired as the newest volunteer assistant for the men's tennis team in August of 2023 after working with the Rebel women’s team and acting as an assistant coach at Centre College.
In Bolton’s first year working with the men’s tennis program, the Rebels secured 12 dual wins during the spring season, highlighted by impressive conference upsets against No. 19 LSU and No. 45 Arkansas. Although the team missed the tournament, senior Nikola Slavic earned a spot in the NCAA Singles Championships, boasting a 20-9 record on court 1 with four wins over ranked opponents. Slavic received All-SEC honors for the fourth time in his career, being named to the first team. The doubles team of Slavic and Lukas Engelhardt also made a strong impact, compiling a 21-14 overall record, including three victories over nationally ranked pairs, and reached a peak ranking of No. 8. The duo finished as doubles finalists at the ITA Southern Regional, securing automatic bids to the ITA National Fall Championships. John Hallquist Lithén, with support from Bolton, was another standout, leading the team with seven singles conference victories and earning Second Team All-SEC recognition.
In his first season at Ole Miss, the women’s tennis team reached the first round of the NCAA Team Championships. No. 1 singles player Sabina Machalova also earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Singles Championships. Ole Miss concluded the season 11-10 overall and 7-6 in SEC competition. The Rebels peaked in the Oracle/ITA rankings at No. 19 in the nation (4/14/21). Ole Miss placed two student-athletes on the All-SEC list (one first team, one second team), earned four SEC weekly awards (one Player of the Week, three Freshman of the Week) and had Tereza Janatova voted the SEC Women's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Bolton spent two seasons with the Colonels in Danville, Ky., where he guided the squad's top player to a No. 43 ranking in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA)'s rankings, a program first. Bolton also led the Colonels to their first-ever appearance at National Indoor Championships. During his first season in Danville, he coached the team's top duo to a No. 9 regional ranking.
Prior to joining Centre, Bolton worked at various tennis clubs in the Chattanooga, Tenn., Atlanta, and Destin, Fla., areas.
Bolton was also as the Director of Tennis at the Oxford Country Club. Prior to Ole Miss, Bolton served as the teaching pro at Manker Patten Tennis Club in Chattanooga. While there, he conducted private lessons and group clinics with adults and juniors of all skills and levels, leaving a legacy of new and exciting training opportunities for members of all ages.
When in Destin, Bolton spent several years at Bluewater Bay, working and training with various pros playing on the ITR Futures Circuit and up and coming collegiate players.
A native of Chattanooga, Bolton was ranked in the Top 20 in the Tennessee Junior rankings before starting his collegiate career at top-ranked NAIA program Tennessee Wesleyan and finishing at UT-Chattanooga.
