Wootton Named Head Coach for Mizzou Tennis
5/11/2021 2:30:00 PM | Tennis
Wootton sheds interim tag after leading Tiger program to historic success in 2020-21
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Tennis interim head coach Chris Wootton has officially been named head coach of the Mizzou Tennis program, announced by Mizzou Director of Athletics Jim Sterk today. Wootton had the interim tag removed after leading the Tigers to a highly successful 2020-21 campaign which included 15 victories, their first ITA regional individual championship and the program's third-ever individual participant in the NCAA Singles Tournament.
"Chris Wootton did an excellent job of managing our women's tennis program through many challenges during the 2020-21 academic year, the biggest of which was COVID-19, and his student-athletes came together to produce one of the winningest seasons in program history," Sterk said. "We believe that this year's success will be a springboard to even greater success under Chris' leadership, and that Mizzou Tennis will continue to thrive in the classroom while continue to improve on the court in future seasons."
"This is an incredible honor that has been bestowed upon myself and my family," said Wootton. "I want to thank Jim Sterk and Andy Humes for trusting me this past year to be the leader of Mizzou Women's Tennis. I am humbled and blessed to accept this prestigious coaching position in the SEC.
"My wife Robin and my two children Christiane and Isabel feel fortunate to become permanent members of this great Mizzou family and the city of Columbia," he added. "Incredible things are happening inside Mizzou Women's Tennis, and I am excited about what this new future will hold for all Tiger fans! M-I-Z!"
Wootton led Mizzou to a 15-16 record in 2020-21 while improving the team's national ranking from No. 178 to as high as No. 36 on March 3. Mizzou's 15 wins rank as the fifth-most in a single season, matching its win totals from the 2002-03 and 2004-05 seasons, while only trailing win totals in 1978-79 (24), 1980-81 (23), 1979-80 (17) and 2015-16 (16). Mizzou notched a 4-3 win over No. 25 Mississippi State on Feb. 20, snapping a 30-match SEC losing streak dating back to April 16, 2017, while recording its highest-ranked win since beating No. 17 Texas A&M, on March 3, 2017.
In his year as interim head coach, Wootton led Mizzou back to the NCAA Tournament, as junior Bronte Murgett earned a berth in the NCAA Singles Tournament, and Murgett and senior Marta Oliveira were selected as an alternate for the doubles portion. Murgett became the third individual in program history, and first since 2016, to qualify for NCAA Tournament after posting an 18-8 record in singles competition, including a 5-5 mark in conference and an 9-6 mark at the No. 1 position. In doubles play, Murgett and Oliveira posted a 9-5 record on the season, all at the No. 1 position, and earned four ranked wins on the season.
Murgett also became the first ITA regional champion in program history after capturing the singles title at the ITA Central Regional in October, producing a 6-0 record at the tournament. As a doubles team, Murgett and Oliveira are 9-5 on the season, 4-3 in SEC play and 4-3 against ranked opponents.
Wootton first joined the Mizzou Tennis program as an assistant coach for the 2019-20 season, where he 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 pandemic-shortened campaign.
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 2019 NCAA Championship 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 (Mass.), 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 and Isabel.
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