The University of Mississippi’s Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center ranks as one of the nation’s finest collegiate facilities. It was completed in 1990 and has served as host to the SEC Championships, Women’s ITA South Regional Championships, the USTA National Interscholas-tic Championships, and the 1999 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Regionals. Located in the heart of campus, it is surrounded by towering magnolia trees and is regarded as perhaps the most beautiful in the country.
The complex combines the Greek revival archictecture that is predominent on the Oxford campus, housing a 500-seat stadium with restrooms, dressing rooms, offices and a team meeting room. Courtside pavillions provide additional seating for 300, giving fans the opportunity to be right on top of the action. The varsity facility has nine championship courts all with lighting, as well as a computerized scoreboard and message center.
Rebel head coach Billy Chadwick, who serves as the tennis center director, has steered the development of the center from its inception.
“Our objective was to build a state of the art tennis center that would enhance and compliment the beauty of the campus,” Chadwick said. “With our new pavillion and landscaping, it is a showplace for the University.”
The primary benefactor is John N. Palmer, a 1956 alumnus of Ole Miss, who is currently the Chairman and CEO of MTEL in Jackson. He was joined in this effort by Mitchell Salloum Jr., a businessman from Gulfport, who is a 1955 alumnus of the University. The center honors the late Mitchell Salloum, Sr., a 1926 law graduate and a 1960-61 President of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. Additional funds were provided by donations to the Drive for Athletics at Ole Miss. Donors who made significant gifts toward other parts of the stadium include Louis Brandt, Jack Dunbar and William Galtney.
The Ole Miss tennis programs received another boost when the new multi-sport indoor facility opened in 1997. The facility houses offices and locker rooms for the women’s soccer, women’s softball, women’s volleyball and rifle programs and contains three indoor tennis courts, a championship volleyball court, and another court which can be used for both volleyball and basketball practices.
The Ole Miss tennis indoor complex is one of the finest in the nation. In the past, inclement weather would force the tennis teams to travel to Memphis to practice or play a match. With the new facility, all matches can be played on campus, allowing fans every opportunity to catch the men’s and women’s teams in action.
The outstanding tennis facilities echos the success of the tennis programs and helps them continue their quest for championships. It shows the commitment and dedication the University has made toward these sports.
“We are fortunate to have the support of our athletic department,” Chadwick said. “This total team effort is what has placed our tennis programs at the top of the collegiate world.”
