Hampton University Athletics

Coming off one of the most successful seasons in recent years, Rush Cole is entering his fourth season as the head tennis coach at Hampton University, taking over a program rich in history and bringing with him many years of experience at the collegiate, youth, and community levels.
 
Both teams qualified for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships in 2016-17 as the women won the Northern Division and advanced to the finals.  He coached two Players of the Year (Kristina Titova and Juan Araoz) and one Rookie of the Year (Araoz).  The women finished 12-5 for their best record since 2007.

In 2014-15, both teams qualified for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships. The men also qualified in 2015-16 to the championships held in Norfolk.

Cole’s experience as a collegiate coach came at Christopher Newport, where he spent 16 seasons as the head men’s tennis coach. From 1996-2012, Cole coached at his alma mater, and in 2008 he was named the National Coach of the Year, while the Captains also eared the National Team Sportsmanship Award.
 
Cole was a three-time USA South Conference Coach of the Year (1998, 1999, 2005), and during his tenure, the Captains went 193-110 – including a program-best 20-4 in 2008. That season, CNU made it to the NCAA Div. III Tennis Championships, and it marked the third of three straight conference titles.
 
While at CNU, Cole served on the USA South Men’s Tennis Committee from 1998-2012, and he served on the ITA Atlantic South Regional Tournament Committee from 2005-12. In 2005, he also served on the ITA Atlantic South Awards Committee.
 
In 2006, Cole was the Virginia State 40s champion.
 
Most recently, Cole was the Director of Tennis at Cedar Point Country Club in Suffolk, Va. from 2009-14, where he provided instruction for children and adults, while maintaining upkeep of both indoor and outdoor facilities.

He also served as a personal trainer with Personal Training Associates from 1999-2006.
 
From 1998-2000, Cole was the Tennis Coordinator and Head Coach at An Achievable Dream in Newport News, after serving as the tennis coach from 1992-98.
 
Cole’s professional experience also includes stints as head professional at the Hampton Tennis Center (1994-98) and tennis instructor at Centre Court in Newport News, Va. (1991-94). During his college days, Cole also spent the summer of 1990 as the head pro at Cedar Point.
 
Cole graduated from CNU in 1992 after attending nearby Phoebus High School. He played tennis at CNU, and he was the team’s No. 1 doubles player in 1991, winning the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title.
 
Cole lives in Hampton, Va.