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Head Coach
John Cayton

Coach John Cayton is beginning his third season at Emporia State. Last year he led both teams to berths in the NCAA Division II National Tournament, including a sweet 16 finish by the women’s team. He was also
named the North Central Region Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year. During the fall season he coached the women’s squad to a first place finish in both singles and doubles that ITA North Central Regional Tournament.

Before coming to ESU he spent a season as the head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Bethel College in North Newton, Kan. In his first year, the Threshers women’s team won the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) championship last fall and advanced to the NAIA regional tournament this spring. Cayton worked for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) in Kansas City, Mo. and in Champaign, Ill. for eight years prior to coaching at Bethel. His duties included junior competition administration, and promoting and developing tennis in schools, public parks, tennis clubs, communities and colleges.

“John brings a unique background to our program after his time at the USTA,” said Weiser. “His familiarity with Emporia State and his success at Bethel made him a strong candidate. His enthusiasm for the position really came through during the interview process.”

Cayton is certified by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and by the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and has taught tennis in the public parks, country club, resort, and school settings. He coached at Emporia HS from 1991-94 and was the head girls coach in the fall of 1993. He served as a graduate assistant coach at Emporia State during the 1994-95 school year. He taught tennis at the Vic Braden Tennis College in St. George, Utah from 1995-96.

He played #1 singles for the Hornets and was named to the All-District 10 team in 1991. The Hornet men were 39-20 during his career and posted a 12-4 record his senior year. He is still an avid tennis player, having recently been ranked in the Top 10 in Men's Open Singles in both the Kansas and Heart of America USTA Districts.

John and his wife Julie have two sons and one daughter.