Shenandoah University entered a new era in the summer of 2019 with the addition of Jason Cole as its new head men's and women's tennis coach.
Cole, a former standout at Ferris (Mich.) State, came to Shenandoah after serving as the head tennis professional at Winchester (Va.) Country Club from January 2018 thru July 2019.
Cole has advanced both his programs in short order as each has finished in the top half of the league in either their second or third full season under his direction. In 2022, the SU women finished fourth in the ODAC, hosting a tournament quarterfinal round match for the first time ever, and advanced into the ODAC semi-finals for the first time in program history.
The SU men won a program-record 12 matches in 2023 on the way to a third place finish in the league. Following the season, four men were selected All-ODAC at a total of five spots (three singles, two doubles) and Cole was selected as the ODAC Coach of the Year for men's tennis. He is the first SU tennis coach to be named as a league Coach of the Year.
Pairing with his ODAC Coach of the Year accolade, Cole earned 2023 VaSID Men's Tennis Coach of the Year for the college division.
| Year |
Overall |
ODAC |
Place |
ODAC Tourn. |
| 2020 Men |
0-5 |
0-1 |
|
|
| 2020 Women |
4-3 |
1-2 |
|
|
| 2021 Men |
7-5 |
4-4 |
7th |
0-1 |
| 2021 Women |
4-8 |
3-6 |
8th |
0-1 |
| 2022 Men |
4-11 |
3-6 |
8th |
0-1 |
| 2022 Women |
10-5 |
7-2 |
4th |
1-1 |
| 2023 Men |
12-6 |
7-2 |
3rd |
0-1 |
| 2023 Women |
10-9 |
7-3 |
5th |
0-1 |
| Total - Men |
23-27 |
14-13 |
|
0-2 |
| Total - Women |
28-25 |
18-19 |
|
1-3 |
| Overall |
51-52 |
32-32 |
|
1-5 |
Prior to WCC, Cole gained experience as an assistant professional, head professional and director of tennis at country clubs in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Michigan following a two-year stint as an assistant men’s tennis coach at the University of Virginia.
He helped the Wahoos to a pair of ACC championships during that time and saw the program advance to the national semi-finals in both seasons.
Following his four-year playing career at NCAA Division II Ferris State, where he was nationally ranked in singles and doubles and named as the Player of the Decade in 2009, Cole played two years of professional tennis.
Cole was also an All-GLIAC academic selection and the 2002 Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship Award winner during his collegiate playing career.
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