Kenneth Milton Jr. was named head tennis coach at Mississippi Valley State University, bringing a deep connection to the Mississippi Delta, a strong background in player development and a lifelong tie to MVSU.
A proud product of the Mississippi Delta, Milton was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Greenwood, Mississippi. His connection to Mississippi Valley State began at an early age, as he briefly lived on campus as a young child and attended preschool at the university. His family’s roots at MVSU run deep, with his mother, Samantha, and sister, Ebony, both earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the university. His father has also been a longtime member of the MVSU family, serving as head, assistant and associate band director from 1991 to 2018, and continues to teach applied trumpet at the university.
Milton graduated from Greenwood High School in 2015, where he was a two-year tennis letterman. He continued his academic and athletic journey at Jackson State University from 2015 to 2017 before transferring to Mississippi Valley State, where he competed for the Delta Devils tennis program during the 2018 season. In his lone season with MVSU, Milton made an immediate impact, playing No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles while earning the team’s Newcomer of the Year award.
Away from collegiate tennis, Milton has remained active in competitive tennis through the United States Tennis Association. As a USTA captain and player, he has led and competed on teams that advanced to state and Southern sectional competition while winning more than 70 percent of his adult league matches. He is also a USTA certified coach who has attended multiple tennis workshops and trained alongside some of the top coaches in the United States.
Since 2022, Milton has served as head coach of the Amanda Elzy High School tennis program, where he rebuilt the program from scratch and quickly established a winning culture. Under his leadership, the Panthers produced four winning seasons, three consecutive playoff appearances, a district championship in mixed doubles and multiple appearances at the MHSAA 3A State Championships.
Milton has also volunteered with the Greenwood High School tennis program, helping coach district championships in Class 4A mixed doubles and girls’ singles competition. In addition to his school coaching experience, he actively trains beginner and club players throughout the Delta, helping introduce the game of tennis to new generations of athletes.
His coaching philosophy is centered on player development, community involvement and growing the sport of tennis throughout the Mississippi Delta.
Milton earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Jackson State University in 2020, where he also marched four years as a member of the Sonic Boom of the South. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Sports Administration at Mississippi Valley State and is expected to graduate in December 2026.
Milton is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and Thee G.O.O.D. Fellas, LLC. He is engaged to Sha’Rayia Stewart of Greenville, Mississippi.
Â
