_ctofeatured.jpg)
Jason Ontog
2010, 2012, 2014 ITA Southern Region Assistant Coach of the Year
Jason Ontog, who completed his sixth year with the Rebel program in 2014, is one of the top young coaches in the nation.
In six seasons with the Rebels, Ontog has helped elevate the program in the SEC and on a national level. A three-time ITA Southern Region Assistant Coach of the Year, Ontog was promoted to associate head coach in July of 2013.
The Rebels made their sixth consecutive NCAA appearance in 2014 and advanced to the second round, before falling to eventual NCAA Champion, UCLA. Julia Jones earned All-SEC second team honors and Caroline Rohde-Moe was named the ITA Southern Region Most Improved Senior. Off the court, the Rebels earned the ITA All-Academic Team Award for the 18th straight year and Rohde-Moe was named to the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District Team.
Youth was the name of the game in 2013, as the Rebels did not feature a senior on the team and only two juniors. They earned the program's 16th overall NCAA appearance, and junior Caroline Rohde-Moe participated in the NCAA Singles Championship as well as earned All-SEC honors for the second time. Off the court, the Rebels were one of the best, earning an APR Public Recognition Award and leading all sports at Ole Miss with a 3.64 team GPA in the spring.
In 2012, the Rebels earned their fourth straight NCAA appearance and a final national ranking of No. 18. It marked the third time in the last four years for the Rebels to end the year ranked in the Top 25. The Rebels (18-9) hosted the NCAA first and second rounds for the first time since 1999 and finished among the top four in the overall SEC standings for the second time in three years. The 18 wins are the most since the 1999 team posted 21. The Rebels also advanced to the National Team Indoor Final 16 for the first time since 2000. Kristi Boxx and Abby Guthrie earned All-America honors and were joined on the All-SEC team by Caroline Rohde-Moe and freshman Erin Stephens. Julia Jones made the All-Freshman team along with Stephens.
Ontog was named ITA Southern Region Assistant Coach of the Year for the second time in three years in 2012.
Despite dealing with injuries to key players in 2011, the Rebels earned their third straight NCAA bid. Kristi Boxx earned All-SEC first team honors for the third year in a row. Connor Vogel made the second team.
Off the court, the team received the ITA All-Academic Team Award for the 15th straight year as well as earning the Chancellor's Cup for the varsity team wtih the highest cumulative grade point average.
In 2010, the team enjoyed its best season in several years, advancing to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen and winning the SEC West Championship.
The Rebels ended the year ranked No. 17 in the nation, posted their best finish in the SEC (2nd) since 1999 and their best league record (8-3) since 2000. Kristi Boxx and Karen Nijssen earned All-America honors, while Boxx was one of only nine players in the nation to earn the honor in both singles and doubles. Laura van de Stroet and Connor Vogel joined Boxx and Nijssen on the All-SEC team.
In his first season with Ole Miss, the Rebels ended the year ranked No. 21 in the nation and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championships. He helped coach the Rebels to five Top 25 wins and their best SEC finish in four years. Ontog helped coach Boxx and Nijssen to All-SEC honors, the NCAA Doubles Championship, the ITA Southern Regional Championship and the consolation title at the ITA National Indoor.
Ontog came to Ole Miss from Chattanooga, where he spent two years (2007-08) as the head girls' coach at Baylor High School.
He was named the 2007 Chattanooga Times-Free Press Best of Preps Girls' Coach of the Year. He also was the 2007 Tennessee Coach for the USTA Southern Junior Cup 14-18's as well as the Southern Coach for the USTA Zone Team Championships.
Prior to his stop at Baylor High School, Ontog was the assistant pro at the Racquet Club of Memphis for three years (2004-07).
"We are really excited to have Jason on our staff," Beyers said. "He has been a great addition for Ole Miss Rebel tennis. He has such a vast amount of experience in the game of tennis and is a very well-known figure in the Southeast as far as junior tennis is concerned.
"Jason is one of the best if not the best coaches in the country. He's a huge part of why we've been able to raise the level of our team and achieve the things that we have accomplished."
As a player, Ontog won the 1998 and 1999 TSSAA State titles at Chattanooga Christian School before going to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he earned All-Southern Conference honors all four years.
In 2000, he was named the So-Con Freshman of the Year, and in 2001 he earned So-Con Player of the Year honors. In 2002 and 2003 Ontog won the So-Con Sportsmanship Award. He earned a career-high national ranking of No. 68 in singles, while playing the No. 1 position for the Mocs.
Ontog served as an assistant coach for the UTC women's team for a year after graduating in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing.
In 2011, Ontog was inducted into the University of Chattanooga Athletics Hall of Fame.
A native of Chattanooga, Tenn., Ontog has a daughter, Lillian Claire, born in March of 2013.
