Tony Dodgen, a longtime tennis coach at Alcorn State and St. Aloysius High School, died on Jan. 18 at the age of 72.

Dodgen was born in Biloxi, graduated from Wingfield High School in Jackson and got his college education at Mississippi State, Southern Miss and Mississippi College, but made his mark in the tennis world in Vicksburg, Port Gibson and Lorman.

Dodgen spent 10 years as the tennis coach at Chamberlain-Hunt Academy in Port Gibson, then seven more at St. Aloysius in Vicksburg. St. Al won six MHSAA Class 1A state championships from 1992-98.

He then moved on to Alcorn State and turned it into a tennis powerhouse in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Alcorn won 12 SWAC championships during Dodgen’s 21-year tenure — eight for the men’s team and four for the women’s — including a run of five in six seasons from 2007-13.

Alcorn reached the finals of the SWAC Championships in 18 of Dodgen’s 21 seasons. He retired in 2018.

Dodgen also coached Chamberlain-Hunt’s football team. At St. Aloysius, as well as at Alcorn State, he was a respected mathematics teacher in addition to his coaching duties.

He was also a member of the Port Gibson United Methodist Church, past president of the Lions Club, and volunteered with several community organizations.

Dodgen is survived by his wife of 46 years, Catherine Hatch Dodgen; his children, Ashley Freeman and Cass Dodgen, his wife Paige, and grandchildren Lucy Catherine, Carr, Anna James and Peyton Bee.

A private celebration of Tony’s life will be held. Waller Family Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Show Mercy International, P.O. Box 1009, Port Gibson, MS 39150.