McMurry’s Mark Hathorn took over the reins as the head men’s and women’s tennis coach in 2001-02.
In 2017-18, the McM women were once again the American Southwest Conference runner-up and qualified for the NCCAA national tournament. The McMurry men were third in the division, but sophomore Carlos Martinez was the ASC West Player of the Year and an NCCAA All-American.
In 2016-17 - for the fourth-consecutive season - McM played host to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Region tournament. The program also returned to the ASC race, with the women placing as the West Division runner-up. Senior Chloe Patterson was the ASC West Player of the Year.
The 2015-16 men's team was the NCCAA Central Region runner-up.
The 2014-15, both the men's and women's squads had banner seasons, with both advancing to the NCCAA national tournament. The men's team, which finished 17-7, was third in the nation for the NCCAA, after winning its third-consecutive NCCAA regional crown. Casjen Rico, Dani Perez and Tom Weir earned all-America accolades, with Rico voted the NCCAA's "Sportsmanship Award." The women's team, 16-5 overall, had a pair of NCCAA All-Americans in sophomores Chloe Patterson and Bree Brosig.
In 2013-14, the McMurry men were the NCCAA national runners-up. McM once again hosted the NCCAA Central Region tournament, with the War Hawk women placing third in the event. Men's senior Preston Steblein was the NCCAA's national "Sportsmanship Award" winner and Chris Breaux, Casjen rico and Felipe Cruz were all-tournament picks at the NCCAA finals. Women's freshman Chloe Patterson was named to the NCCAA Central Region all-tournament team. During the fall, the men's doubles tandem of Breaux and Rico placed 6th in the nation at the ITA/USTA Small College Championships.
In 2012-13, both the men's and women's squads participated in the 2013 NCCAA Central Region Championships, hosted by McM at the Seidel-Swagerty Tennis Center. The men’s team won the regional tourney and advanced to the NCCAA nationals, where it placed tied for third in the final standings.
Prior to the move into NCAA II status, Hathorn won back-to-back American Southwest Conference (ASC) West Division men’s titles (2009 & 2010). He also claimed the West Division women’s crown in 2012, the team’s final season as ASC members.
For the success in the men’s program, Hathorn was named the ASC West Division men’s “Coach of the Year” three-straight seasons from 2008-2010. In addition, he’s had the pleasure of coaching the ASC West Division Men’s Player of the Year in the past two seasons in Chris Bumann (2009) and Will Davis (2010). Casjen Rico was the ASC West Division “Freshman of the Year” in 2012.
On the women’s side, the team’s underclassmen under Hathorn have flourished as McMurry was awarded the ASC West Division Newcomer of the Year (Lindsay Bloomer) and Freshman of the Year (Whitney Zugai) in 2010. In 2012, Brandy Curry also claimed the “Freshman of the Year” award for the ASC West.
Hathorn was also the ASC West women’s “Coach of the Year” in 2012.
Hathorn’s players have also been getting it done in the classroom as well with no less than 68 academic all-conference awards handed out since 2001.
Prior to his years at McMurry, Hathorn was the head professional at Abilene’s Fairway Oaks Country Club from 1995-2003 and before that he worked as the tennis pro at Walden’s Lake Houston Country Club from 1989-1995.
As a collegiate player, Hathorn competed at Abilene Christian University from 1980-1984 where he was the Wildcats’ No. 1 player in both singles in doubles in each of his last two seasons. After college he was ranked at both the state and national levels for adult singles. He still enjoys playing in USTA-sanctioned state and national tournaments. In 1996 he was ranked nationally in the top 10 in the men’s over 30 singles bracket.
Hathorn and his wife Kelley, a McMurry graduate, have three daughters: Amy, Madison and Kaitlyn. The family makes their home in Abilene.
