JOHN CAYTON STEPPING DOWN AS HEAD TENNIS COACH AT EMPORIA STATE

Men's Tennis | 5/14/2018 3:25:00 PM

May 14, 2018-John Cayton has announced that he is stepping down as the head tennis coach at Emporia State to pursue business management opportunities in the private sector. He just completed his 13th season at Emporia State as the head coach of both the men's and women's programs.

"It has truly been my privilege and honor to serve as the head coach for the last 13 years at my alma mater," said Cayton. "I wish to thank everyone that has provided me the opportunity to work with student-athletes in the sport I love and has been so good to me for 40 years of my life."

Cayton led both the men's and women's tennis teams to the NCAA Division II National Tournament in 2007 and repeated that achievement in 2008, the only times in school history both teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

"We appreciate everything that Coach Cayton has done for Emporia State over the last 13 years and wish him luck as he moves on to the next chapter of his life," said Emporia State Director of Athletics Kent Weiser. "Graduate assistant coach Marko Goles Babic will oversee the daily operation of the program until we name a full-time head coach."

Cayton's overall dual match record stands at 153-102 for the women with four trips to the NCAA Tournament. In the Spring of 2007, the women's team won the MIAA Tournament Championship, the NCAA Regional, and reached the Sweet 16 of the 2007 NCAA Division II National Tournament. FOr his efforts he was named the 2007 ITA Regional Coach of the Year, and the 2007 USPTA Missouri Valley Division College Coach of the Year.  The Hornets also went to the NCAA Tournament in 2006, 2008 and 2014. He has twice had one of his women's players earn the MIAA Sportsmanship Award.

His overall men's dual match record is 115-110.  The men qualified for the NCAA Division II National Tournament for the first time in school history in 2007 and 2008. Four different men's players have been named as MIAA Sportsmanship Award winners during Cayton's tenure at Emporia State.

Emporia State has had 14 women's players and eight men named MIAA All Scholar-Athletes for earning all-conference honors with a GPA of over 3.50 as both teams regularly boast over a 3.50 team GPA for a semester.
 
Prior to his arrival at Emporia State, Cayton guided (NAIA) Bethel (KS) College Women's Tennis program to a KCAC Conference championship in 2004. His career in tennis includes nine years working for the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA), and teaching tennis is every various club, resort and public park settings. He has been certified by the U.S. Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) as an Elite Professional for 25 years. He was an all-conference player at #1 singles and #1 doubles for the Hornets during his playing career.

The Cayton File
Head Coach Emporia State 2006-18
Year    Men    Women
2018    11-8    1-12
2017    10-7    7-10
2016    13-8    10-13
2015    11-10    11-10
2014    9-10    16-9*
2013    8-13    13-8
2012    6-10    16-8
2011    7-9    12-3
2010    7-9    11-7
2009    8-8    9-8
2008    9-9*    14-5*
2007    10-7*    16-3*!
2006    6-12    17-6*
Totals    115-110    153-102
*=NCAA Tournament
!=MIAA Champion

Head Coach Bethel College 2005
2005    7-8    9-6#
#=KCAC Champions

United States Tennis Association  
1996-2004 USTA  Administration
Vic Braden Tennis College
1995-96 Instructor

Assistant Coach Emporia State  
1995     13-3    13-2

Coach Emporia High School
1993-94 Head girls coach
1991-93 Assistant coach

Education
BS - Emporia State University 1991
MS - Emporia State University 1994

Playing Career
Emporia State 1987-91
•All-District 10 1991
Men's Team Records
1991     12-4
1990     9-5
1989     10-5
1988     8-6
Total     39-20