This tradition will be honored again tonight when Jason Ontog (2000-03) becomes the seventh former Mocs men's tennis player to be inducted into the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame.
Ontog is one of the most decorated student-athletes in the storied history of Chattanooga Tennis. He was the 2000 SoCon Freshman of the Year and followed that up with player of the year honors in 2001.
A four-time All-SoCon honoree in singles play from 2000-03, Ontog was also a three-time All-SoCon performer in doubles action. He was the last men's tennis player to receive a national ranking, climbing as high as No. 67 in 2003.
Ontog's freshman year, he guided the Mocs to a 17-8 overall record, including a 6-4 mark in the league. Chattanooga entered the SoCon Tournament as the fifth seed, but made a run at their second league title in three years. Playing No. 1 for the Mocs, he helped UTC pull off three straight upsets that was capped by a 4-3 win over Furman in the finals.
2000 was the first year the SoCon had an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, sending the Mocs on their first and only trip to the NCAA Division I Tournament. Also known for his calm demeanor on the court, Ontog twice earned the SoCon Sportsmanship Award as a junior and senior.
A native of Chattanooga, Ontog earned his degree in Marketing from UTC in 2004. He is married to the former Jennifer Smith, who is also a 2004 graduate of UTC with a degree in English. Ontog is currently an assistant coach with the Ole Miss women's tennis team.
