Current Release: September 11th, 2007 | Vol. XXIV Iss. 10

Early hired just in time for season

by melissa fowler

mjfowler@vwc.edu

Out of a pool of over 15 applicants, including coaches from Canada and South America, Frank Early was chosen as the new VWC head tennis coach.

After John Brinkman retired, the search began for his replacement. Interim Athletic Director Joanne Renn headed the search. She used an organization called the Intercollegiate Tennis Association to provide a job posting on the Internet for the position.

Many of the applicants were unqualified, but not Early. What made him stand out was the fact that he had Division III and Regional experience. Early was the co-head men’s coach at Johns Hopkins University, nationally recognized in the top 20.

According to Renn, Early is “a tennis guy. He has been playing and coaching for 20-plus years.” Once Renn found him, she brought him to Virginia Wesleyan, and Dean of Students David E. Buckingham helped her make the final decision to hire him.

Early played at Florida State and Northern Arizona. He is detail-oriented, which makes a good coach. He has great tactical planning skills. He knows how to pick apart a tennis stroke and can figure out a game plan that fits any individual’s style.

“He exudes patience with all of the players and does not hesitate to stay after with help,” said sophomore Imee Bautista, last year’s conference Rookie of the Year. “I think his style is dynamic in the way that he tries to teach the players in various ways.”

When it comes to credibility, Early knows his stuff. He wrote a top-selling instructional book called “Tennis Strokes that Win.”

A review available on Amazon.com by Marty Riessen, Gold Medal-winning U.S. Women’s Olympic Team coach, said: “Frank Early offers a simple approach for learning each stroke. The photographs in this book are especially useful as reference points.”

Early uses his book as well as videos of professionals to teach his players various techniques like tactics and strokes. He also does circuit training and drills in the C-MAC with the team. Early is not just a tennis guy.

He received his master’s degree in English from Northern Arizona University. At Virginia Wesleyan he has been using those skills to help out in the Writing Center.

“He shows us that tennis can be incorporated in various settings and not just on the court,” Bautista said. “Thus, I think we are not only becoming better tennis players, but astute students of the game.”

As for this season, the women’s team has high hopes. They would like to finish in the Top Two as they did last year. Their biggest competition comes from Hollins University, Bridgewater College and Washington and Lee University, the powerhouse of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

“Strong leadership and depth from the upperclassmen will help teach the newcomers on the team,” Bautista predicts. “Sophomores Shannon Sabo and Oliva Casero will add depth to our bottom line-up, while junior Megan Crook and senior Keira McMillan will also add experience, depth and knowledge to our mature squad.”

On the men’s side, the top two players are gone with no replacements. As with the women, Washington and Lee will be their toughest competition.

“It’s going to be a tough season,” said senior Tim Sanford. “He seems to be a good coach. If we listen to what he says, we should have a good season.”