Photo by: Brittany Evans
Denver Women’s Tennis Hires Makenna Jones as Assistant Coach
9/8/2026 12:12:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Former WTA player, NCAA national doubles champion joins Moreno’s staff for 2026-27
DENVER – The University of Denver women's tennis team has hired Makenna Jones as an assistant coach, head coach Agustín Moreno announced on Tuesday.
Jones begins her collegiate coaching career following a highly successful playing career that saw her win the 2021 NCAA Division I Women's Doubles national championship while playing at the University of North Carolina before embarking on a multi-year run on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour. She achieved career high WTA rankings of No. 107 in doubles in July 2023 and No. 236 in singles in October 2023.
"I'm incredibly excited to join the University of Denver and begin my coaching career with such a special program," Jones said. "Tennis has shaped so much of my life and after competing collegiately and professionally, I'm really looking forward to sharing those experiences and helping the next generation of student-athletes pursue their own goals. I'm excited to learn from the staff, build meaningful relationships with the team and contribute to a culture where our players can grow, compete and enjoy the college experience. I'm so grateful for their opportunity and can't wait to get started at DU."
As a collegiate student-athlete, Jones racked up one of the most successful careers in the history of the storied North Carolina women's tennis program. She finished with a 115-35 career singles record and grabbing another 111 doubles wins, both ranking near the top of the UNC record books. Four times, she earned ITA All-America status including in both singles and doubles in 2018-19.
She capped her NCAA career with an NCAA national doubles title in 2021 with partner Elizabeth Scotty. In total, she picked up three All-ACC honors while playing at UNC and collected career-best national rankings of No. 1 in doubles and No. 2 in singles.
In 2021, she began her professional career on the WTA tour and played in the doubles main draw at the US Open with her former UNC partner Scotty. Two years later, she made the main draws at both Wimbledon – with partner Sloane Stephens – and the US Open – with partner Jamie Loeb.
While on the tour, she picked up a main-draw doubles wins at the 2025 BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells, California) with partner McCartney Kessler and at the 2022 Citi Open (Washington, D.C.) with partner Stephens.
Outside of her time as a player, Jones has held roles at Rancho La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, California, and with Nike Tennis Camps at Furman University.
She holds two degrees from the University of North Carolina: a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science, and a master's degree in sport administration.
Jones completes new Denver head coach Agustín Moreno's first staff at DU. Moreno, who was announced as the program's head coach on August 11, will also retain Maureen Kechriotis, who will now enter her third season as an assistant coach for skill instruction and recruiting.
Denver is entering its first year as a member of the West Coast Conference after making the official transition to its new conference home on July 1. In DU's final season as a member of the Summit League in 2025-26, Denver extended its unbeaten run in regular-season duals to finish 71-0 all-time on its way to winning its 12th consecutive tournament title. DU made its 15th team appearance at the NCAA National Championships to end its season.
The Pioneers begin training for the 2026-27 season in mid-September ahead of their first fall tournament, the University of Nebraska's Husker Invitational, on September 25-27.
Jones begins her collegiate coaching career following a highly successful playing career that saw her win the 2021 NCAA Division I Women's Doubles national championship while playing at the University of North Carolina before embarking on a multi-year run on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour. She achieved career high WTA rankings of No. 107 in doubles in July 2023 and No. 236 in singles in October 2023.
"I'm incredibly excited to join the University of Denver and begin my coaching career with such a special program," Jones said. "Tennis has shaped so much of my life and after competing collegiately and professionally, I'm really looking forward to sharing those experiences and helping the next generation of student-athletes pursue their own goals. I'm excited to learn from the staff, build meaningful relationships with the team and contribute to a culture where our players can grow, compete and enjoy the college experience. I'm so grateful for their opportunity and can't wait to get started at DU."
As a collegiate student-athlete, Jones racked up one of the most successful careers in the history of the storied North Carolina women's tennis program. She finished with a 115-35 career singles record and grabbing another 111 doubles wins, both ranking near the top of the UNC record books. Four times, she earned ITA All-America status including in both singles and doubles in 2018-19.
She capped her NCAA career with an NCAA national doubles title in 2021 with partner Elizabeth Scotty. In total, she picked up three All-ACC honors while playing at UNC and collected career-best national rankings of No. 1 in doubles and No. 2 in singles.
In 2021, she began her professional career on the WTA tour and played in the doubles main draw at the US Open with her former UNC partner Scotty. Two years later, she made the main draws at both Wimbledon – with partner Sloane Stephens – and the US Open – with partner Jamie Loeb.
While on the tour, she picked up a main-draw doubles wins at the 2025 BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells, California) with partner McCartney Kessler and at the 2022 Citi Open (Washington, D.C.) with partner Stephens.
Outside of her time as a player, Jones has held roles at Rancho La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, California, and with Nike Tennis Camps at Furman University.
She holds two degrees from the University of North Carolina: a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science, and a master's degree in sport administration.
Jones completes new Denver head coach Agustín Moreno's first staff at DU. Moreno, who was announced as the program's head coach on August 11, will also retain Maureen Kechriotis, who will now enter her third season as an assistant coach for skill instruction and recruiting.
Denver is entering its first year as a member of the West Coast Conference after making the official transition to its new conference home on July 1. In DU's final season as a member of the Summit League in 2025-26, Denver extended its unbeaten run in regular-season duals to finish 71-0 all-time on its way to winning its 12th consecutive tournament title. DU made its 15th team appearance at the NCAA National Championships to end its season.
The Pioneers begin training for the 2026-27 season in mid-September ahead of their first fall tournament, the University of Nebraska's Husker Invitational, on September 25-27.
Denver's Home for College Sports
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Women's Tennis on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_WTennis on Twitter
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_WTennis on Instagram
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_WTennis on Threads
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Women's Tennis on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_WTennis on Twitter
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_WTennis on Instagram
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_WTennis on Threads
Wednesday, August 19
Sunday, September 21
Friday, August 08
Wednesday, April 16
