UT Permian Basin Athletics announced the hiring of Chris Tolson as the new Head Coach of the men’s and women’s tennis programs in September 2024.
In his first season leading the Falcons in 2024-25, Coach Tolson led the UTPB men's tennis team to a final record of 11-8, but also saw his Falcons advance to both the Lone Star Conference Semifinals and the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. The UTPB men's tennis team opened up the Spring 2025 season ranked No. 25 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) NCAA Division II rankings, was ranked as high as No. 23 early in the season, and finished the season ranked at No. 46. During the regular season, Jonas Krahofer earned the clinching victory in singles as UTPB opened up LSC action with just the second win in program history against Cameron University with a 4-3 victory over the Aggies at the Ratliff Stadium Complex Tennis Courts in Odessa, Texas. Then in its very next match, UTPB picked up the first regular-season win in program history over Midwestern State University with a 5-2 win over the No. 15 nationally-ranked Mustangs to start 2-0 in conference action. Needing a win in its final match of the regular season to clinch a share of third place in the LSC, UTPB did just that a 6-1 win at Dallas Baptist University. However, in the Lone Star Conference Tournament semifinals, the third-seeded Falcons held a 2-1 lead, but after a lengthy weather delay, could not keep it going and ultimately fell 4-2 against No. 5 nationally-ranked and second-seeded Lubbock Christian University at the Arlington Tennis Center in Arlington, Texas. Then in the NCAA Division II South Central Region Men's Tennis Championship, the fourth-seeded Falcons won the doubles point, but then ran out of gas in singles action en route to a 4-1 defeat at No. 5 nationally-ranked and top-seeded LCU at the Penny Gullo Tennis Center, bringing an end to the Falcons' 2024-25 season. UTPB was led this year by the 25th nationally-ranked singles player in NCAA Division II, Jonathan Vega. Vega earned First-Team All-LSC recognition in both singles and doubles, was named the Co-Sportsmanship Player of the Year, and earned a spot on the LSC All-Tournament Team. Vega was 12-6 at No. 1 singles this season, including five wins over ranked opponents. In doubles, Vega and Krahofer were a combined 13-3, including a record of 12-3 at No. 1 doubles. During the Spring season, Vega and Krahofer were ranked as high as No. 18 in the nation in doubles, and ended the year ranked at No. 30. On the women's side, the Falcons opened up their conference season by beating Cameron for the first time in program history, winning by a score of 5-2 at the Ratliff Stadium Complex Tennis Courts in Odessa, Texas. Later in the season, the UTPB women swept the doubles matches and battled No. 19-ranked Lubbock Christian University to a one-point decision (4-3) at the Penny Gullo Tennis Center in Lubbock, Texas. Despite the loss, the Falcons won more matches (5) than the Lady Chaps (4) on the day. Following the season, senior Brooke Runyan and sophomore Paige Bott were named Honorable Mention All-LSC for doubles. In addition, Runyan was also named to the Sportsmanship Team and was named to the All-Academic Team. Thanks in large part to Runyan's and Bott's efforts, the Falcons earned the doubles point in six of their 10 conference matches this season.
Tolson came to UTPB from William Jessup University, where he served as the Men’s and Women’s Head Tennis Coach. Tolson was announced as the newest Head Coach of the WJU tennis program in June of 2021 and was the inaugural Head Coach of the Warriors’ men’s tennis program. Between the two programs, Tolson coached one nationally-ranked singles player and one nationally-ranked doubles team, two GSAC All-Conference players, seven ITA West-ranked singles players and four ITA West-ranked doubles team.
Tolson moved out west to California and WJU after previously leading the tennis program at Eastern Illinois University since August of 2018. While with Eastern Illinois, Tolson helped lead his team to an Ohio Valley Conference Tournament appearance while also helping the men's program earn the second-most wins in program history (14). On the women's side at EIU, Tolson coached the OVC Player of the Year, Rachel Papavasilopoulos, who ranked in the Top-20 ITA Midwest Rankings. The EIU women's team also had a top-20 ranking in doubles tennis.
Before jumping to the NCAA Division I rank, Tolson led the tennis program at Arizona Christian from 2011-2018. Tolson was the inaugural coach for the Firestorm, and during his tenure, he was named GSAC Coach of the Year twice (2015, 2017). The Firestorm were very successful with Tolson leading the team as the women's team won two GSAC championships (2015, 2016) and made three NAIA Tournament appearances (2015, 2016, 2017). The 2015 team reached No. 7 in the NAIA Coaches Poll. The men's team also won two GSAC titles (2017, 2018), making an NAIA Tournament appearance both times.
In addition to his experience in the GSAC, Tolson also coached at Glendale Community College, the school he played at. Tolson was also an assistant coach at Maryvale High School in Arizona, and had stints as an instructor and tennis pro at several tennis academies.
A Phoenix, Arizona, native, Tolson earned his Bachelor's Degree from Arizona State in 2006. As a collegiate player, Tolson finished seventh in the NJCAA National Tournament and was named the NJCAA Region 1 Player of the Year.
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Tolson at UTPB
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| Year |
Season at UTPB |
Men's Record |
Men's Conference Record |
Men's Conference Finish/Accolades |
Women's Record |
Women's Conference Record |
Women's Conference Finish/Accolades |
| 2024-25 |
1st |
11-8 |
5-3 |
T-3rd LSC
Advanced to LSC Tournament Semifinals
Advanced to NCAA Regional First Round |
8-9 |
3-7 |
T-8th LSC |
| Overall |
11-8 (.579 pct.) |
5-3 (.625 pct.) |
One LSC Tournament Appearance
One NCAA Division II Tournament Appearance |
8-9 (.471 pct.) |
3-7 (.300 pct.) |
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