MCC Welcomes Tavis Rieger to Lead Men’s and Women’s Tennis

MERIDIAN, Miss. – Meridian Community College is proud to announce the hiring of Tavis Rieger as the new Head Coach for both the men's and women's tennis teams.

Rieger brings more than a decade of coaching experience across the NJCAA, NAIA, and NCAA levels. He's helped build winning programs, bring in strong recruits, and support student-athletes in the classroom and on the court. He now steps into a program with a proud tradition at MCC, and will lead the Eagles into a new era as they begin play at the Wanda McPhail Tennis Courts inside the Citizens National Bank Sports Complex.

"Tavis brings an impressive mix of leadership, experience, and heart to our tennis program," said MCC Athletic Director Sander Atkinson. "He knows how to build strong teams and cares about the full student-athlete experience. We're excited to have him join the MCC family."

Most recently, Rieger served as Head Coach for men's and women's tennis at St. Lawrence University, where he helped the women's team reach a national ranking of No. 25. He also played a big role in bringing in top recruits, increasing fundraising, and helping organize regional and national events.

Before that, Rieger was Associate Head Coach at Nicholls State University, where he helped both programs grow on and off the court. He also served as Associate Athletic Director and Head Coach at the University of Tennessee Southern, leading nationally ranked teams and working on key upgrades to the tennis facilities.

Rieger has coached players who earned All-Conference and All-American honors, and he's helped many student-athletes earn academic awards, scholarships, and degrees. He believes in pushing his teams to grow not just in tennis, but in the classroom and in life.

A graduate of Wabash College, Rieger earned his bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Economics, graduating with honors. He also holds a master's degree in education, and has worked in admissions, academic advising, and student services—giving him a strong background in helping students succeed.

Coach Rieger will lead both teams into their first season at MCC's new tennis facility, named in honor of longtime coaching legend Wanda McPhail. With both the men's and women's teams making appearances at the NJCAA National Tournaments last season, the bar is set high—and Rieger is ready for the challenge. The MCC community is excited to welcome him, and we look forward to seeing the Eagles continue their winning tradition under his leadership.