University of Tennessee-Chattanooga women's tennis coach Jeff Clark resigned Wednesday to accept an offer to become the head coach at McCallie School.
A 1991 McCallie graduate, Clark replaces veteran Blue Tornado coach Eric Voges, who will remain at the school to become the director of tennis operations and also assistant coach. Voges, who had been tennis coach for 29 years, guided the program to six state titles and his teams advanced to at least the state semifinals in 23 of his seasons.
"Jeff brings two things to this program. First and foremost, his knowledge and experience will only benefit our players and help them reach their goals," Voges said. "Second, he is part of the McCallie tennis family. So he has a good understanding of what McCallie stands for and what we expect of our players and students. I think that knowledge will help move this program forward in the years to come."
After playing for Voges, Clark continued his career at Vanderbilt and later professionally in tournaments in Europe. Clark recently completed the ninth year of his second tenure at UTC, where his teams have gone 12-3 in Southern Conference play. He was also an assistant at Ole Miss, helping the men's program to four consecutive top-ten national team rankings, back-to-back SEC titles and a Final Four appearance.
"I am thoroughly humbled by the opportunity to coach the varsity tennis team at McCallie," Clark said. "Eric Voges has been a coach, mentor, and friend to me through the years."
Said McCallie assistant headmaster Kenny Sholl, "After completion of the new Tennis Center, Coach Voges realized pretty quickly the workload was stretching him to the point where he couldn't do everything that needed to be done at the high level he expects of himself and his players. That he would come forward with the idea of taking on this new role shows not only what a savvy tennis professional he is; it shows his willingness to do whatever it takes to make McCallie tennis the best it can be."