Celebrating Black History Month: Honoring tennis legend Jeremiah Ollison

February is Black History Month, a time to honor the achievements and contributions of Black individuals who have made a lasting impact on society.

In the world of tennis, few have had as profound an influence in USTA Oklahoma as Jeremiah Ollison. A native of Warren, Ark., Ollison’s journey from multisport athlete to a celebrated coach and community leader is a testament to perseverance, dedication and a deep love for the game. Ollison is a longtime volunteer within USTA Missouri Valley and serves on a section committee.

Born and raised in Warren, Ollison is the son of the late James and Georgia Ollison. He attended Bradley County High School until integration, later graduating from Warren High School in 1970. A standout athlete, he was a big part of the school’s basketball team under the leadership of Coach Jones and Coach Millerton.

Following high school Ollison attended Shorter Junior College in North Little Rock, Ark., where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in education while playing basketball. His athletic journey then led him to the military, where he was stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany. There, he played for the Sembach Airbase basketball team and, during his downtime, discovered a new passion—tennis.

Ollison’s interest in tennis began in 1972 while serving in Germany. What started as a way to stay in shape soon turned into a lifelong passion. Upon returning to the U.S. he continued his education at Langston University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education with a minor in social studies in 1974. He later earned a master’s degree in health, physical education and recreation from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1978.

Settling in Oklahoma City with his wife, Jaqueline, and their son, Elijah, Ollison dedicated more than four decades to Millwood Public Schools. As a coach, he contributed to 11 state basketball championships and five state runner-up finishes. Beyond basketball, he also coached track and field, cross-country and tennis while serving as the sponsor for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.