Wittenberg Men’s and Women’s Tennis head coach Jacob Rankin resigns to pursue other opportunities

SPRINGFIELD — After three seasons as the head coach of the Wittenberg University men's and women's tennis programs, Jacob Rankin has announced his resignation to pursue other opportunities.

Introduced as the Tigers' 11th head coach in program history in January 2022, Rankin led the women's team to a combined 29-22 record and the men to a 7-44 mark during his tenure.

The Tiger women displayed steady improvement in Rankin's three seasons, going from a 5-7 finish in the 2021-22 campaign to 10-10 in 2022-23 and 14-5 in 2023-24. The 14 wins marked the program's most victories in a season since finishing 19-6 in 2010-11. They posted a 4-2 mark in North Coast Athletic Conference play this past season for a third-place finish in the standings, and Rankin and his staff were named NCAC Coaching Staff of the Year.

The Tiger men are coming off a 1-19 season after finishing 3-10 in 2021-22 and 3-15 in 2022-23.

Rankin's student-athletes garnered 11 All-NCAC accolades during his tenure. Highlighting that list are a pair of First Team Singles honors for Ashley Isaac in 2022 and 2023 and one for Caroline Sproule in 2024. Isaac and Sproule earned All-NCAC First Team Doubles honors in 2023, and Sproule and Kylie Wilson did the same this past season.

Rankin came to Wittenberg from IU-East, where he led the men's team to its first conference championship match in program history and the women's team to its first conference championship victory and NAIA Championships automatic qualifying bid.