Fulmer Announces Contract Extension for Ojeda

Tennessee Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer announced Monday that women's tennis head coach Alison Ojeda has signed a contract extension through 2024.

As part of the agreement, Ojeda's salary escalates from $150,000 in 2019-20 to $160,000 in the final year.

Ojeda completed her third season at the helm of the program this past spring and was named 2019 Ohio Valley Region Head Coach of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

"The resurgence of Tennessee women's tennis under Alison's leadership is evident," Fulmer said. "I admire her passion and have been impressed with her ability to relate to her players as well as recruits. I expect the program to continue to flourish with Alison as our head coach."

Under Ojeda's watch in 2019, Tennessee continued to make immense strides on the court, recording the best regular-season win total since the 2003 season and making the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year.

The Lady Vols claimed their best SEC finish since 2013 and had nine conference victories—their most since 2011. At home, Tennessee posted a 14-3 record, marking the most home wins for the program in a single season since 1992. The Lady Vols also set a program record for shutouts with 11.

"Coaching for Tennessee under coach Fulmer's leadership is an absolute honor," Ojeda said. "Our program, including our recruits, feel that our university and administration have our back and that's a great feeling.

"I'm thankful that the University of Tennessee believes in me. We want to win an SEC title and our entire program is all in."

Ojeda directly oversaw the development of Sadie Hammond and Kaitlin Staines, who earned All-American honors in doubles—Tennessee's first doubles All-Americans since 2013.

Two freshmen who Ojeda and her staff recruited to Knoxville, Rebeka Mertena and Maia Haumuller, also made immediate impacts. Mertena led the Lady Vols in dual-match singles wins with 18, while Haumuller competed at the No. 2 doubles spot all season and also frequently appeared in the singles lineup. She was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week in February.

Ojeda's first two seasons saw the Lady Vols win 19 and 18 matches, respectively. Tennessee made the NCAA Tournament in each season.

Through three years as Tennessee's head coach, Ojeda's teams have posted a 57-32 (.640) overall record.

Ojeda also shined as a student-athlete with the Lady Vols from 1998-2002, earning All-America honors in singles in 2001. She still stands at eighth place in singles (102) and doubles (105) victories on Tennessee's all-time wins list and is one of only four females ever to post more than 100 victories in both singles and doubles during their career on Rocky Top.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Ojeda initially rejoined the Tennessee women's tennis program as an assistant coach in June of 2016 and ascended to head coach that November.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Sadie Hammond

Maia Haumuller

Rebeka Mertena

Kaitlin Staines

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