Mark Beyers Position: Head Coach College: Armstrong Atlantic State, 1991 Overall Record: 95-54/Seven Years Record at Ole Miss: 45-46/Four Years

When fifth-year head coach Mark Beyers took over the Ole Miss women's tennis program prior to the start of the 2002 season, he spoke of getting the program back to the national prominence it enjoyed in the nineties. Four years later, one can safely say the future looks bright.

Beyers, who served as an assistant coach for the top 10 nationally-ranked Rebel tennis program from 1996-2001, was named head coach of the Ole Miss women's tennis team on Oct. 4, 2001. Beyers replaced Jerry Montgomery, who retired from collegiate tennis after leading the Lady Rebels to national prominence during his 15-year tenure.

Since taking over as women's coach, Beyers and his assistant coach, Whitt Taber, have worked tirelessly to put their imprint on the program. The final picture is not complete, but it is definitely coming together.

With three freshmen and a sophomore in the lineup, the 2005 Lady Rebels captured the SEC Western Division Championship for the first time ever. In addition, the team made its 11th NCAA Championship appearance. Chloe Carlotti became the seventh All-American in the history of the program and joined an elite group of Division I players to earn that distinction at multiple schools. Carlotti and Virginia Tomatis earned All-SEC honors after going 8-3 in the league at No. 1 doubles.

"Winning the SEC title was very exciting, especially the way we did it," Beyers said. "Playing Mississippi State is special anyway, but playing for the title made it even more special. We fought through a lot of close losses last year. The team worked hard all season and it was great to see all the hard work pay off."

As has become a tradition with the Lady Rebels, the team achieved unprecedented success off the court as well. For the ninth year in a row, they received the ITA All-Academic Team Award.

"To receive this honor nine consecutive years speaks to the caliber of student-athletes we have brought into the program," Beyers said. "We place an emphasis on academics, and we are very proud to say that we have achieved a high level of success in the classroom. These fine young ladies have done an outstanding job representing the university."

The 2004 season saw the Lady Rebels narrowly miss making the NCAA Team Championships, but there were plenty of highlights to be noted. Chloe Carlotti and Virginia Tomatis teamed up to post an 8-3 record in the SEC at No. 1 doubles and earn All-SEC honors. Carlotti participated in the NCAA Championships in singles and teamed up with Tomatis in doubles.

For the eighth consecutive year, the Lady Rebels were named an ITA All-Academic Team. Florencia Basile, Karem Harboe, Sabrina Peppl and Virginia Tomatis were named ITA Scholar-Athletes and to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

In 2003, current volunteer coach Mira Radu completed an outstanding career by being named the NCAA Woman of the Year for the state of Mississippi.

"The award is a tremendous honor for Mira and for the University of Mississippi," Beyers said. "There are so many great athletes in the state of Mississippi. She is well-deserving of this honor.

"Mira epitomized the ideal student-athlete. She did everything well. Her work ethic on and off the court and as a team leader was outstanding. It takes a special person to have all those qualities. I am happy that I had the opportunity to coach her for two years. I probably learned as much from her as she did from me."

Radu earned All-America honors for the second consecutive year as well as All-SEC accolades. Radu finished her senior year ranked No. 18 in the nation and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Singles Championships. The winner of the 2003 ITA South Region Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship, Radu became only the fourth Lady Rebel ever to record 100 wins for her career, finishing with a 108-52 career record. Radu was also the co-recipient of the Eugenia Conner Memorial Award, which is given to the most outstanding female athlete on the Ole Miss campus each spring.

Off the court in the 2003, the Lady Rebels earned the ITA All-Academic Team Award. Radu made the SEC Academic Honor Roll, and Florencia Basile, Karem Harboe and Virginia Tomatis were named ITA Scholar Athletes.

During his first season (2002) at the helm, Beyers guided the Lady Rebels to their seventh consecutive NCAA appearance and a final national ranking of No. 35. He also coached Radu to All-America and All-SEC honors. Radu ended the year ranked among the top 20 singles players, while Alesya Ignatieva finished the season ranked No. 63. Radu and 2002 graduate Camilla Gould earned the ITA Scholar-Athlete Award, while the squad was named an ITA All-Academic Team.

No stranger to women's tennis, Beyers, a native of Tilburg, Holland, spent three years (1992-95) as head coach of the women's tennis team at Armstrong Atlantic State in Georgia. During his three years, the team captured the NCAA Division II Championship, posted a 50-8 record and won the Peach Belt Conference each year. Beyers earned PBC Coach-of-the-Year honors in 1993, 1994 and 1995. In 1995, he received NCAA Division II South Regional Coach-of-the-Year honors. His teams ranked 10th, ninth and first respectively in the Division II national rankings.

Beyers came to Ole Miss in the fall of 1995 as the men's assistant coach. In his six years as an assistant coach with the Rebels, Ole Miss reached the final four twice (1997, 1999) and won three SEC titles (1996, 1997, 1999). In 1997, Beyers was the first recipient of the ITA Region III Assistant Coach-of-the-Year Award.

During his 12 years of coaching collegiate tennis, Beyers has coached 21 All-Americans, 20 Academic All-Americans and six Academic All-America teams.

As a collegiate player at Armstrong Atlantic State, Beyers earned four letters, posted a 99-21 record and led his team to a national ranking of No. 4. He earned All-America honors twice in doubles and singles.

Beyers received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Armstrong Atlantic State in 1991. After graduating, Beyers enjoyed a brief professional career on the satellite tour before returning to his alma mater to coach the women's team.

In 1998, Beyers became the youngest person ever to be inducted into the Armstrong Atlantic State Athletic Hall of Fame.

In July of 2005, Beyers married the former Lauren Dorcheus. The couple resides in Oxford.