MSU?s Stump Earns ITA Southern Region Assistant Coach of the Year
May 09, 2016 | Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. – In his second-year on the Mississippi State men's tennis coaching staff, assistant Tanner Stump has been tabbed the 2016 Southern Region Assistant Coach of the Year, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced Monday.
Stump is now the fourth assistant in MSU history to earn the award, and the first since current head coach Matt Roberts won the award in 2014. Other Bulldog winners include Michael Metz in 2005 and Matt Hill in 2011.
“I am extremely honored to receive this award from my fellow coaches in the Southern Region,” Stump said. “None of this would be possible without the faith that Matt has placed in me and the direction he has given me since I have come back to coach here. ”
For the 2016 campaign Stump assisted Roberts in leading the Bulldogs to their 25th overall NCAA Championship appearance, while also earning 16 wins on the season and finishing fourth in the Southeastern Conference. MSU has earned back-to-back NCAA Team Championship and SEC Tournament semifinal appearances under Roberts and Stump's guidance, a feat no other coaching staff has done in their first two seasons at the helm.
Stump came to State after stops at Furman in 2014 and Middle Tennessee State in 2012-13. Under coach Kelly Jones at Furman, Stump helped lead the squad to a 16-9 record in 2014 before earning back-to-back 19-win seasons with MTSU.
The Bradenton, Fla., native graduated from MSU after a four-year career with the Bulldogs on the tennis court. He was an instrumental part of the Maroon and White's rise back to national prominence in his time at State, culminating in the program's first SEC Western Division crown his senior season and a top-20 finish in the ITA National Rankings.
“I'm grateful for the hard work Tanner puts in every day and he is well deserving of this award,” Roberts said. “He's the calm and steady hand on the team and our guys show him so much respect. I am happy to have him on my staff and it's great to see him honored and recognized for all the work he's done for our program.”
Aside from aiding in the team's success, Stump has played a vital role in the development and recruitment of many key players in the lineup. A total of six true freshmen make up the 2016 roster, which Stump assisted in recruiting. The Bulldogs earned three All-SEC honors this season and two NCAA Individual Championship qualifiers on the singles court in juniors Mate Cutura and Rishab Agarwal.
“This award wouldn't be possible without the incredible group of players we have here at MSU,” Stump said. “It is a testament to the hard work they have put in all year long.”
As an ITA Regional award winner, Stump is under consideration for the national ITA award as well. The national awards will be announced Tuesday, May 24, at the NCAA Tennis Championships finals site in Tulsa, Okla.
MSU, ranked 21st national, opens play of the NCAA Team Championship this Friday, taking on No. 42 Memphis in their first round match at 2 p.m. CT in Champaign, Ill,
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow “HailStateMT” on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
