Robert Kjellberg joined the Jacksonville State tennis program August 2015 as the men’s and women’s assistant coach. Along with head coach Andres Amores, the duo began putting their stamp on JSU tennis with the 2015-16 season.
Kjellberg helped Jacksonville State’s first men’s recruiting class under Amores receive national attention from the Tennis Recruiting Network as the class, ranked among the nation’s best by the top recruiting source in collegiate tennis.
The Gamecock men claimed their 11th OVC title, and first since 2014, with a regular-season crown in 2019. JSU posted a 13-7 overall record accompanied by a 4-1 conference mark en route to the championship. Jacksonville State then reached the championship round of the OVC Tennis Championships. In addition, the men were ranked inside the top 100 of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association overall rankings, reaching as high as 95 during the season.
The JSU women returned to the OVC Tennis Championships in 2019 for the second season in a row. It was the first time the ladies appeared in consecutive OVC postseason tournaments since 2010 and 2011.
During the 2018 spring season, both the men’s and women’s programs received their highest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings in program history. The JSU women reached as high as No. 77 while the men broke the top-100 at No. 85.
Prior to joining Jacksonville State, Kjellberg served as the men’s and women’s assistant coach at North Carolina Wesleyan from 2013-14. He helped recruit two NCAA Freshman All-Americans and two USA South Conference Rookies of the Year in 2013 and 2015. Both programs claimed the 2015 USA South regular-season crowns en route to their first undefeated seasons in program history. The Division III Bishops saw the men’s individuals receive a No. 12 ranking, while the doubles teams ranked No. 2 in 2015.
Kjellberg spent 2007-10 as a tennis professional at the TK 77 Tennis Club in Vetlanda, Sweden. As the club pro, he was responsible for individual and group lessons, developing a junior tennis program and coaching tennis beginners.
Professionally, Kjellberg played for the Växjö Club Team in Swedish top division (Elitserien) following his college playing career. He ranked as one of the top 10 players in Sweden and played on the ITF Future Tour.
Robert received his B.S. in Exercise Science and Business Administration from North Carolina Wesleyan in 2015 where he played collegiately and was a four-time All-American. He ranked No. 1 in both singles and doubles in the Division III national rankings and was the doubles national runner-up in 2013 and 2015. He reached the semifinals of the NCAA D-III singles tournament in 2013.
He was the Bishops’ Most Valuable Player in all four seasons (2011-15) and was a captian for three seasons. The NCW Male Athlete of the Year in 2012, 2013 and 2015 was also a two-time USA South Tournament MVP, four-time All-Conference First Team member and four-time All-Tournament selection.
He was nominated for the 2013 Arthur Ashe Award for Sportsmanship and Leadership and ranked No. 1 in both doubles and singles in the ITA USA South Regional rankings. He won three ITA Regional Championships, two at doubles and one singles.
