Wootton Named Interim Head Coach for Mizzou Tennis
4/14/2020 2:14:00 PM | Tennis
Wootton replaces Gaston who resigned on Monday
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Tennis associate head coach Chris Wootton has been named Interim Head Coach of the Mizzou Tennis program, announced by Mizzou Director of Athletics Jim Sterk today. Wootton replaces Colt Gaston, who resigned as head coach on Monday. Gaston had been with Mizzou since 2015 and had been the head coach since 2016-17.
Wootton joined the Mizzou Tennis program in August 2019, and brings three decades of coaching experience in the collegiate and professional levels, including two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California (2017-19). In his first season at Mizzou, Wootton helped Serena Nash and Gabrielle Goldin climb to No. 58 in the ITA Doubles Rankings, as the pair was able to record two ranked wins during the 2019-20 pandemic-shortened campaign.
"Coach Wootton brings a wealth of experience into the position having been a key member of the USC women's tennis program's recent rise to national prominence," said Executive Associate Athletics Director for Compliance & Administration Andy Humes. "Chris is a proven recruiter and works well on the court with our student-athletes. He is well-respected by our student-athletes and staff, and I am confident he will lead this program in a first-class manner."
"I would to like to thank Jim Sterk, Andy Humes and Sarah Reesman for this incredible opportunity to lead the Mizzou Women's Tennis program," said Wootton. "This fulfills my lifelong dream of becoming a Division I Head Coach. I am excited about leading my team in the SEC and competing on the national stage. My family and I love and feel connected to the city of Columbia and the proud traditions of the University of Missouri. M-I-Z!!!"
Prior to coming to Mizzou, Wootton spent two seasons at the University of Southern California, where he helped the Trojans climb from No. 48 to No. 11 in the ITA Rankings, and led Angela Kulikovand and Rianna Valdes to a NCAA doubles semifinals appearance and No. 3 ranking in 2019. In addition, he coached top-50 ranked singles players Gabby Smith and Salma Ewing.
Prior to USC, Wootton coached one year at Williams College (Ma.), where he helped lead the Ephs to the 2017 NCAA Division III national team championship. He coached five All-Americans in his one season with the Ephs, who went 20-4 in 2016-17 and captured the New England Small College Athletic Conference title.
Before becoming a collegiate coach, Wootton competed for Mississippi College (2011-13) and the University of Texas at Tyler (2013-15), where he earned his master's degree in business administration. In 2015, Wootton captured All-America honors in doubles at the age of 39, becoming the oldest All-American in NCAA history in any sport across all divisions.
Between 1995 and 2011, Wootton coached over 50 NCAA college tennis players and over 20 ATP/WTA touring pros. He also played professionally for six years, collecting singles and doubles wins over top-100 ATP players.
Wootton and his wife, Robin, have two daughters, Christiane (22) and Isabel (19).
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Players Mentioned
