Jenn Tinnell was hired as head coach of the Rhodes College women's tennis program on December 29th, 2016. During the 2019-20 season she added compliance duties to her resume and in September of 2020 she was promoted to assistant athletic director for compliance and named senior woman administrator.
During the 2019-20 season, the Lynx went 5-3 during the shortened season, winning each of their last three matches. In the 2018-19 season, Tinnell helmed the Lynx to a 13-5 record, accumulating the most wins in a season since the 2010-11 season when they went 13-6. Sophomore Dasha Safarian was tabbed first team All-SAA for the second year in a row while senior Caroline Doherty earned second team honors yet again.
Tinnell has spent her first year and a half rebuilding the program. Her first full year on staff, the Lynx acquired first team All-SAA honors from Safarian (a freshman) and second team All-SAA honors in Doherty. The duo finished the year 9-8 at No. 1-doubles. Doherty and Natalie Arnold earned honorable mention All-SAA accolades the spring of 2017, Tinnell's first semester with the Lynx.
Tinnell spent two seasons at her alma mater, Berry College, as a graduate assistant coach of the tennis program prior to Rhodes. She was previously an assistant coach at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa during the 2013-14 season.
Tinnell graduated from Berry in 2013 and was a two-sport standout for the Vikings. In tennis, she was a team captain where she played No. 1 singles and doubles during her final two seasons.
As a senior, Tinnell was ranked 24th in the region. She helped Berry to a runner-up finish in 2013 with a 16-4 singles record and 16-5 doubles record. Tinnell was tabbed to the Southern Athletic Association second team after the season.
Additionally, the Asheville, North Carolina native excelled on the volleyball court at Berry. She helped the Vikings capture the inaugural SAA regular season and tournament championships in 2012. A converted Libero and defensive specialist, she was an all-conference second team selection as a senior.
