CINCINNATI, Ohio – Mount St. Joseph University Director of Athletics Melanee Wagener has announced the university will reinstate the men's and women's tennis programs for the fall of 2023.
The teams, which have not competed since 2019, were originally lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The programs will continue to compete as a member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, the same home conference as the majority of the programs at the Mount.
"We are extremely thrilled to be bringing back the tennis programs here at the Mount," said Wagener. "We are also excited that for the first time, that both programs will be under a single full-time head tennis coach."
That coach will be Jayson Wiseman, also announced by Wagener today. Wiseman comes to the Mount with a very impressive resume.
"I'm extremely excited to join the Athletics staff at Mount St. Joseph. I want to thank Melanee Wagener and Chuck Murray for their faith in me and for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to the challenge of building both the men's and women's programs back after their COVID hiatus," said Coach Wiseman.
His most recent coaching position was as the head women's tennis coach at Eastern Michigan University. During the nearly six year run with the Eagles, Coach Wiseman led the team to a 51-50 record.
Prior to his time at EMU, Wiseman was the head women's tennis coach at the University of Evansville. He was also an assistant at Wright State University and Bowling Green State University. Coach
Wiseman has also spent time as a head tennis pro, and professional tennis instructor.
Despite his extensive resume, Coach Wiseman understands that rebuilding these programs will be a challenge. "Although it is definitely going to be a big job to have both teams ready to compete by the 2023-24 season; I feel that with so much support from the athletics staff and the tennis community for bringing these teams back, I can create great momentum going forward. Recruiting has long been one of my strengths as a coach, and I am looking forward to hitting the ground running and putting together a great group of young men and women who will excel both on the court and in the classroom."
The Lions will return to the court in the fall of 2023!
