Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center
The University of Mississippi’s Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center ranks as one of the nation’s finest collegiate facilities.
The tennis center was completed in 1990 and has served as host to the SEC Championships, Women’s ITA South Regional Championships, the USTA National Interscholastic Championships and NCAA Men’s and Women’s Regionals. This year, it will host the SEC Women’s Tennis Tournament.
Located in the heart of campus, the tennis center is surrounded by towering magnolia trees and is regarded as perhaps the most beautiful in the country.
Construction is nearing completion on expansion to the tennis center. The $3 million expansion will compliment the already stunning facility by adding seats and enhancing the player and coach areas; including the locker rooms, study area, and coaches’ offices.
The complex combines the Greek revival architecture that is predominant on the Oxford campus, housing a 500-seat stadium with courtside pavilions providing additional seating for 300. With the expansion, spectator viewing will be available on top of the buildings to the left and right, allowing for more fans to enjoy what has become an exciting atmosphere. The facility has nine championship courts all with lighting, as well as a computerized scoreboard and message center.
Both head men’s and women’s tennis coaches Bily Chadwick and Mark Beyers are excited about the additions to the tennis facility.
“When Palmer/Salloum was built, the objective of creating a state-of-the-art tennis center was met,” Chadwick said. “The expansion will be a compliment to the existing space and advance our facilities even further.”
“We are thrilled with the additions to the tennis center,” Beyers said. “It will enable us to continue attracting the top players in the nation and around the world as we strive to compete for more championships.”
The primary benefactor of the tennis center is John N. Palmer, a 1956 alumnus of Ole Miss, who is currently the U.S. Ambassador to Portugal. He was joined in this effort by Mitchell Salloum Jr., a businessman from Gulfport, who is a 1955 alumnus of the University. The center honors the late Mitchell Salloum, Sr., a 1926 law graduate and a 1960-61 President of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. Additional funds were provided by donations to the Drive for Athletics at Ole Miss. Donors who made significant gifts toward other parts of the stadium include Louis Brandt, Jack Dunbar and William Galtney.
Galtney contributed $1 million to the renovation/expansion, and in recognition of his generous donation, the courts will be named the William F. Galtney, Jr., Tennis Courts.
The Ole Miss tennis programs also benefit from the Gillom Sports Center, which opened in 1997. The facility contains three indoor tennis courts, allowing both tennis teams to play all their matches in Oxford. The Ole Miss tennis indoor complex is one of the finest in the nation.
The outstanding tennis facilities echo the success of the tennis programs and helps them continue their quest for championships. It shows the commitment and dedication the University has made toward these sports.
“We are fortunate to have the support of our athletic department,” Chadwick said. “This total team effort is what has placed our tennis programs at the top of the collegiate world.”
