Murrie Bates is in his seventh year as Hampden-Sydney College head tennis coach. Bates is certified by the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and has made an immediate impact since his arrival in fall of 2006.

Bates joined the Tiger program after a 31-year banking career, most recently with Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T) in Farmville, VA. A Richmond, VA, native, Bates is a former club professional and played collegiate tennis at Ferrum College and West Chester State College prior to graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University. 

Bates' Tigers are 61-31 overall in his six seasons. Additionally, they boast a 42-12 record in ODAC competition in the regular season, including an undefeated regular season in 2010, culminating in Bates being tabbed with his second ODAC Coach of the Year award.

The Tigers have been to the ODAC Title game from 2008-2011 with one Championship in 2009. Hampden-Sydney has featured the ODAC Player of the Year from 2007-2011 along with three Scholar Athletes of the Year and two Rookies of the Year. Bates has coached 27 All-ODAC honorees through the 2011 season, and every single singles player from 2008-2011 has been named All-ODAC.

Most notably, Bates has coach Four-Time ODAC Player of the Year Will Moss, who was also a two-time ODAC Scholar Athlete of the Year. Moss was awarded the most prestigious honor from the ODAC for a male athlete when he was awarded the Harry G. "Doc" Jopson Award in 2010. The award is given each spring to a senior amongst all conference sports who exhibits the highest athletic, academic, and extracurricular achievements.

In 2009, Hampden-Sydney enjoyed another stellar season, compiling a 14-6 overall record, including 8-1 in ODAC competition. The Tigers finished second in the ODAC regular season, then defeated regular season champion Washington & Lee in the championship match to win their first ODAC title since 1982. The Tigers defeated Transylvania in the first round of the NCAA tournament before falling in the second round. Bates was honored for his work by being named 2009 VaSID State Coach of the Year to follow up his 2008 ODAC Coach of the Year honor.

Bates resides in Charlotte Court House, VA.

Bill Thompson has assisted the Hampden-Sydney tennis program for over 10 years, and he has also been involved with the tennis programs at Longwood and Virginia Commonwealth. Coach Thompson is a Master Racquet Technician (MRT) designated by the United States Racquet Stringers Association (USRSA). As an MRT, he customizes and strings racquets for optimum performance, teaches and tutors players who are interested in racquet and string technology, and administers examinations for national certification.

Coach Thompson is a lifelong racquet sport enthusiast. His tennis experience spans a 20 year period involving United State Tennis Association (USTA) league and club competition, and he has played squash and racquetball for over 35 years. Thompson has a highly respected racquet service business, and people send in racquets from all across the country for customizing and specialized stringing.

Thompson is a graduate of the University of Georgia and is a retired Colonel from the United States Air Force. He currently resides in Farmville with his wife of 55 years.

Carter Carson is 1971 graduate of Hampden-Sydney with BA degree in Economics. He played football and baseball for H-SC and he won two Mason Dixon Conference Championships as a member of the 1970 and 1971 baseball teams. Carter was the first CEO of the Bank of Amelia (now BB&T), which opened for business on October 19, 1978. After a successful career in banking, Carson retired on June 30, 2011.