Manker Patten tennis pro Ned Caswell believes the private facility along the banks of the Tennessee River is “the greatest tennis club in the country.”

But however perfect his position, one aspect of his job has always annoyed Caswell.

“I coach all these kids until they’re 11. Then they go to Baylor, McCallie or GPS and I lose them to people who are so qualified, but I don’t get to help the kids develop their games,” he said. “You can get a little jealous.”

At least he did until Baylor named the 44-year-old Caswell its director of tennis on Saturday.

“I am absolutely thrilled that Ned has agreed to take over our tennis program,” said Baylor athletic director Thad Lepcio. “It has one of the richest histories of all our sports programs, but it was in need of a jolt. We believe Ned gives us that jolt.”

A jolt for Baylor, perhaps. But no bolt from Manker. Caswell will hold down both jobs.

“We’ve got things going pretty good at Manker right now,” said Caswell, now in his 11th year at the club. “I’ve got a tremendous staff. I’ll still run the junior program. Nothing much should change.”

At least not at Manker Patten. At Baylor, Lepcio expects Caswell to have a profound impact on a program that has won 10 state championships in boys’ and girls’ competition since 1988, but none since 2000, according to its Web site.

“Ned has started the tennis careers of children all over Chattanooga, and now he’ll get a chance to continue to coach them,” Lepcio said. “But Ned isn’t just going to be responsible for the elite player who competes for championships. He’s going to help our students learn a life sport.”

Two of those students Caswell knows better than the rest. Twin daughters Samantha and Harper are entering the seventh grade at Baylor.

“There’s no question that being involved in our children’s lives will be great,” said Caswell, whose wife Wendy works with the Fairyland Club program. “Our life is tennis.”

This isn’t the first time Caswell has been a key part of two teams, so to speak. Before graduating from Furman in 1987, he played both basketball and tennis for the Paladins. He reached the national quarterfinals in tennis his senior year.

“Ned is exactly what we need,” said Baylor headmaster Dr. Bill Stacy. “He knows tennis backward and forward. And because his girls are here, he’s already in our family. I see Ned doing for our tennis programs what King Oehmig’s done for our boys’ and girls’ golf programs.”

Oehmig’s golf teams have won 12 straight girls’ state titles and nine of the last 10 Division II boys’ crowns.

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