Smith Announces Chase Colton as Assistant Coach
Sep 15, 2022 | Tennis
The 2020 Wisconsin graduate spent the last two years at Vanderbilt
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State women's tennis head coach Jordan Smith announced on Thursday (September 15) the addition of Chase Colton as an assistant coach. Colton comes to K-State after two years at Vanderbilt as a volunteer assistant under head women's coach Aleke Tsoubanos.
Colton was part of 32 wins, including 11 in the ultra-competitive SEC, during his time at Vanderbilt, which included back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022. He helped coach three All-Americans, including Christina Rosca in singles in 2021 and Anna Ross and Holly Staff in doubles in 2022.
This past season, the Commodores posted a 18-10 record and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three seasons with wins over Xavier and Ohio State before a 4-0 loss to No. 7 seed Texas A&M.
Individually, Ross received an at-large bid to the 2022 NCAA Singles Championships, while Ross and Staff earned All-America honors after reaching the Elite Eight round of the 2022 NCAA Doubles Championships. Both Ross and Staff were 2022 All-SEC Second Team selections.
In his first season, Colton helped the Commodores to a 14-10 record and a trip to the Second Round of the 2021 NCAA Championships. Senior Christina Rosca reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Singles Championships, earning All-America honors for the second time in her career, while Ross and Staff were picked as alternates for the NCAA Doubles Championships. Additionally, sophomore Marcella Cruz was named to the SEC All-Newcomer Team.
Colton was a student-athlete at Wisconsin from 2016 to 2020, posting a career 61-42 doubles record as a Badger, while compiling 48 singles wins. During his senior year he was captain of the men's team while playing the No. 1 positing in singles and doubles. Academically, he was a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
A native of Davie, Fla., Colton earned a bachelor's degree in English from Wisconsin in May 2020.
HEAD COACH JORDAN SMITH
On Chase Colton's ability…
"Beyond pumped to have Chase joining our tennis program. I knew at the beginning of my search, that I wanted to hire someone with a high tennis IQ and great passion on-court. Chase checked those boxes and more. He's learned from coaches as a player and assistant that I have a lot of respect for. Chase is going to be a great supporter and coach for our student-athletes. He brings the perfect dynamic to help us improve our standard nationally."
NEW ASSISTANT COACH CHASE COLTON
On this opportunity…
"I'm incredibly humbled and excited by the opportunity to come be the assistant women's tennis coach with Kansas State and continue the upward trajectory that Coach Smith has been building. I knew from the moment I stepped on campus that this school and team were special and I'm excited to get on court with them. Go 'Cats!"
Colton's hire comes weeks before the Wildcats begin their fall schedule.
Colton was part of 32 wins, including 11 in the ultra-competitive SEC, during his time at Vanderbilt, which included back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022. He helped coach three All-Americans, including Christina Rosca in singles in 2021 and Anna Ross and Holly Staff in doubles in 2022.
This past season, the Commodores posted a 18-10 record and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three seasons with wins over Xavier and Ohio State before a 4-0 loss to No. 7 seed Texas A&M.
Individually, Ross received an at-large bid to the 2022 NCAA Singles Championships, while Ross and Staff earned All-America honors after reaching the Elite Eight round of the 2022 NCAA Doubles Championships. Both Ross and Staff were 2022 All-SEC Second Team selections.
In his first season, Colton helped the Commodores to a 14-10 record and a trip to the Second Round of the 2021 NCAA Championships. Senior Christina Rosca reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Singles Championships, earning All-America honors for the second time in her career, while Ross and Staff were picked as alternates for the NCAA Doubles Championships. Additionally, sophomore Marcella Cruz was named to the SEC All-Newcomer Team.
Colton was a student-athlete at Wisconsin from 2016 to 2020, posting a career 61-42 doubles record as a Badger, while compiling 48 singles wins. During his senior year he was captain of the men's team while playing the No. 1 positing in singles and doubles. Academically, he was a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
A native of Davie, Fla., Colton earned a bachelor's degree in English from Wisconsin in May 2020.
HEAD COACH JORDAN SMITH
On Chase Colton's ability…
"Beyond pumped to have Chase joining our tennis program. I knew at the beginning of my search, that I wanted to hire someone with a high tennis IQ and great passion on-court. Chase checked those boxes and more. He's learned from coaches as a player and assistant that I have a lot of respect for. Chase is going to be a great supporter and coach for our student-athletes. He brings the perfect dynamic to help us improve our standard nationally."
NEW ASSISTANT COACH CHASE COLTON
On this opportunity…
"I'm incredibly humbled and excited by the opportunity to come be the assistant women's tennis coach with Kansas State and continue the upward trajectory that Coach Smith has been building. I knew from the moment I stepped on campus that this school and team were special and I'm excited to get on court with them. Go 'Cats!"
Colton's hire comes weeks before the Wildcats begin their fall schedule.
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