The winningest coach in the history of Ole Miss sports announced his intent to retire at the end of the season.
Men’s tennis head coach Billy Chadwick announced on Monday that his 31st season coaching the Rebels will be his last. Ole Miss athletics director Ross Bjork said Chadwick expressed a desire to retire after the 2013 season, but the competitor that Chadwick is pushed him back for a final season at the helm of the Rebels.
Chadwick himself was very lighthearted in his speech, jokingly saying that the compliance office may look into the tennis program because “(Chadwick’s wife) Julie has made every single player that has been a member of the program a member of our family. … That has been our secret weapon in recruiting.”
Chadwick has amassed 647 wins over his 34 year career, including seven seasons coaching the women’s tennis team as well.
Bjork also announced that associate head coach Toby Hansson will take over the head coaching job following Chadwick’s retirement. Hansson is in his eighth season with the Rebels after coming over from Texas Tech in 2005.
“It’s been a privilege to work with such a terrific coach, mentor and individual for the past seven years,” Hansson said. “Coach Chadwick’s three-decade record reflects his expertise as a coach, but he is much more than that to our team. Coach takes a personal interest in each and every player in his program, and the outcome is a team that feels more like a family.
“It has been an honor to work alongside him, and I feel very fortunate to have learned from the best in the sport.”
Chadwick also expressed support for Hansson, saying that the future of the program “is in great hands.”
Mississippi native Devin Britton, who won the 2009 NCAA Individual Championship, was in attendance and said “Coach was a very influential part of my tennis career, and I wish him the best in the future.”
— Nick Eley
njeley@go.olemiss.edu
