MOUNT OLIVE (Aug. 15) – A former league standout and Conference Carolinas Tournament Team Champion, Jake McCartney was recently hired as the head men's and women's tennis coach at the University of Mount Olive.
McCartney was a four-year starter and played primarily at first singles at rival Barton from 2013-17 before entering the coaching ranks with the Bulldogs for three seasons while also serving as a graduate assistant for athletic operations. He also brings experience from being a Tennis Pro at clubs in the local area and serving as a volunteer assistant coach at North Carolina Wesleyan.
"I am incredibly excited to take the next step in my coaching journey at Mount Olive as a head coach. Returning to the Conference Carolinas where I played as a student-athlete and coached as an assistant is very special to me," said McCartney. "Mount Olive Tennis has a long history of championship-caliber programs and I look forward to continuing that success both on and off the court."
A native of Thames, New Zealand, McCartney earned all-conference status three times with the Bulldogs and twice received first-team honors. Additionally, he was tabbed the 2014 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year after posting a 15-4 singles record while registering a 16-5 mark in doubles play. During his collegiate career, McCartney played a majority of the time in the first position and tallied double-digit wins in all four seasons. He served as team captain in 2017 and led the Bulldogs to the Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship for the first time since 1997 while being awarded Tournament MVP. He completed his career with over 100 combined victories in singles and doubles play at Barton.
"We are excited for Coach McCartney to be our next men's and women's tennis head coach," said Director of Athletics Joey Higginbotham. "He was an energetic competitor when he played in Conference Carolinas and we're excited to see that energy translate over to being a head coach and leading our student-athletes to success on and off the court."
McCartney started his college coaching career with the Bulldogs as an assistant coach for the men's and women's tennis programs, while also working as a graduate assistant in athletic operations. Additionally, he served two brief stints as the head pro at Lake Wilson Tennis Club. With the Bulldogs, McCartney aided the women's program to consecutive 14-win campaigns before both teams held winning records in 2019-20 when pandemic ended the season. He also assisted with recruitment efforts, facilitating a team culture, and player development.
After completing his master's degree at Barton, McCartney returned as the head pro at Lake Wilson Tennis Club before serving as a volunteer assistant coach for the men's and women's tennis teams at NC Wesleyan, an NCAA Division III program, in 2021-22. During that season, the men's team closed the year ranked eighth in the ITA rankings after advancing to the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship Regional Final behind a 29-5 record. The following year, McCartney worked as a tennis pro at Seven Oaks Swim & Racquet Club.
McCartney received his bachelor's degree in accountancy and business administration with an emphasis in finance from Barton College before earning an MBA in strategic leadership from his alma mater in 2020.
