The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 17, 1987 , Page 9 1987 Men's Tennis Supplement INTERNAL COACHING GIVES EISNER EDGE Eisner: Best' By ADAM SCHRAGER The names Bo Schembechler and Bill Frieder come to mind when mentioning successful Wolverine coaches, but neither is the most successful at Michigan. That honor belongs to men's tennis coach Brian Eisner, who has won an unprecedented 15 Big Ten titles and made 16 NCAA appearances in his 17 years as coach. "I firmly believe that I am the best tennis coach in the United States. I have told my team that time and time again," said Eisner. "In a way, they are able to feed off my confidence. You have to believe that you are at a certain level. "In fact, it doesn't matter whether I am the best or not, because I believe that I am the best. I believe I am the best not just because of the championships that I have won, but because I believe I know more bout tennis than anyone. I believe I know more ,l about how to get the best from my players, than anyone. The important thing is that I truly believe these things to be true." Eisner's confidence has led to his amazing success. By winning 78 percent overall and 92 percent in the Big Ten, Michigan has become the team to beat in the Midwest. Before Eisner came to Michigan, he compiled four consecutive Mid-American titles at Toledo. EISNER BEGAN his playing career at ichigan State in 1960, and before his college years were over, he was runner-up in both the Big Ten singles and doubles competition. He has since completed his Ph.D. in kinesiology and motor performance, but it is not his ability to deal with mechanized objects that has led him to produce eight E All-Americans in his tenure with Michigan, but instead his ability to work with people. "He is one of the best on-court coaches in the country," said senior Ed Filer, who plays fourth singles. "He makes tennis more than just tennis. PHe always insists that you can beat a certain opponent because your personality is stronger than his." in the country It is this type of "internal coaching" that Eisner believes is the new and more effective way of coaching. Internal coaching stresses the mental attitudes and emotions of a player rather than the exterior, physical aspects of the game. "I am not afraid to communicate with my players," said Eisner. "I encourage them to say what they feel. That is what we are dealing with here - feelings." His caring attitude may seem to be somewhat false from an outsider's point of view. But assistant coach Mark Mees does not agree. "THE ONE thing that I have really noticed is that the guy is one of the most optimistic and positive people I've ever met in my life," said Mees. "It is a great feeling to work for and play for someone who is that optimistic. He brings out the best in everybody that he is around." The best, however, never has meant an NCAA championship. In 1974, the Wolverines went 14-1 en route to a third-place finish in the NCAA's, and in 1975, they amassed an 18-1 record and a fourth-place finish in the NCAA's. But Eisner's success is not limited to the Michigan program. Several high-ranking junior players such as U.S. Davis Cup member Aaron Krickstein and current USC star Luke Jensen have come under his tutelage and have gone on to receive national publicity. "I try to understand every one of the people who come for coaching and their personality," said Eisner. "I have to learn what it is going to take from a personality standpoint to coach that person. Until you Pr thoroughly understand the personality of that person, you really cannot do the one-on-one coaching that is imperative in this sport." "You can tell that he loves what he is doing," added Mees. "He loves working with people. The energy that he exudes carries over to everybody around him. It's special. It's something I don't see a lot of people having and that is why he is so successful." DAN GOLDBERG Position: Second singles Hometown: Avon, CT. Immediate Tennis Goals: Big Ten Team Championships, individual NCAA berth Age Began Playing Tennis: 10 Junior Career: No. 12 boy's 18's, college No. 57 singles Favorite Part of Game: Forehand, serve Dream Match: Finals of French Open Most Admired Player: Bjorn Borg JOHN ROYER Position: Third singles Hometown: Columbus, Ohio Future Goals: To be a real estate developer Age Began Playing Tennis: 12 Junior Career: Top 50 national singles ranking Favorite Part of Game: Serve Dream Match: Winning Davis Cup for U.S. Most Admired Player: Jimmy Connors ED FILER Position: Fourth singles Hometown: South Bend, Ind. Future Goals: To turn professional Junior Career: 34 national singles ranking, Weirdest Occurrence on Court: "Played doubles with a Brazilian partner against another Brazilian. o They got into a fight and match was cancelled. I didn't understand a word so I just watched." Most Admired Player: John McEnroe JON MORRIS Position: Fifth singles Hometown: Ann Arbor Future Goals: Go to medical school Age Began Playing Tennis: Nine Junior Career: Top 50 nationally, No.1 in Michigan;, Favorite Part of Game: Serve Most Admired Player: Arthur Ashe isne BRAD KOONTZ Position: Six singles Hometown: Keene, N.H. Future Goals: Turn Professional then get M.B.A. Age Began Playing Tennis: Eight Junior Career: Top three in New England, top 25 U.S. Favorite Part of Game: change-over Dream Match: To play any pro at Wimbledon on center court Most Admired Player: Bjorn Borg FRANZ GEIGERQ Position: singles Hometown: Toledo, Ohio_ future goals: To attend law school and go onto a fruitful political career, Age Began Playing Tennis: six Junior Career: 22 in nation for 14 and under, Ohio State runner-up, Western Closed 18 and under doubles , champion Weirdest Occurrence on Court: Fight and eventual default of my opponent over a line call Most Admired Player: Jimmy Connors MICHAEL PIZZUTELLO Position: Third doubles Hometown: Eastchester, N.Y. Future Goals: To play professional tennis Age Began Playing Tennis: eight Junior Career: No. 2 ETA, top 40 national ranking Favorite Part of Game: serve and volley Most Admired Player: Adriana Pannata CHIP McCOLL Position: Third doubles Hometown: Glencoe, II. Future Goals: Turn professional and then go into business Age Began Playing Tennis: five Junior Career: 50 national boy's 18's, won St. Louis Junior Invitational for 18's Favorite Part of Game: volleying. Most Admired Player: John McEnroe Tennis boasts successful By JULIE HOLLMAN and ADAM SCHRAGER Since its start in 1940, the Michigan men's tennis team has been absolutely dominant over a diverse selection of opponents. Over the 47 years of its existence, Michigan has compiled over 700 wins and 29 Big Ten titles, including 17 of the last 19 and 26 of the last 32. From the years of 1968 to 1983, the Wolverines captured 16 consecutive conference titles. With all of these team accomplishments, there have been many individual stars as well. One of the most famous, Barry MacKay, led the Wolverines to their only NCAA Championship in 1957. In that year, MacKay, a current television commentator, captured the singles title and placed second in the doubles with partner Dick Potter. UNTIL THE 1970s and the emergence of Victor Amaya, many considered MacKay to be the best tennis player in Michigan history. Amaya won Big Ten singles titles in each of his three years at Michigan ('73-'75) but turned pro after his junior year, depriving him of the opportunity to win an NCAA singles championship. Amaya and four-time All-Big Ten Eric Friedler led Michigan to third and fourth- place finishes in the NCAAs in 1974 and 1975, respectively. After Amaya left in 1975, people began to wonder if anyone could fill his shoes. Jeff Etterbeek answered that question by capturing All-Big Ten honors in each of his four years at Michigan. Etterbeek, in that time, won three conference doubles championships and one Big Ten singles championship, while helping Michigan to four Big Ten team titles. Mike Leach was the next NCAA singles champion to come to Ann Arbor. Leach, the two-time All- American, captured the coveted title in 1982 and went on later that year to join Amaya on the pro circuit. During his tenure at Michigan, he also captured one Big Ten singles and two doubles championships. MARK MEES, the present Michigan assistant coach, and partner Tom Haney provided Michigan fans with a Big Ten doubles championship in 1983 and then an NCAA appearance that lasted until the quarterfinals. Both of these All-Big Ten recipients received All-American honors that year. This year, coach Brian Eisner's team sports a 20-2 record with a 14- match win streak and a national ranking of 17. After losing four- time All-Big Ten performer Jim Sharton to graduation, the team has rebounded strongly to challenge for the Big Ten title that they lost last year to Minnesota. Already this year, the Wolverines have beaten the Golden Gophers twice. The first time was November 23 in Kohler, Wisconsin at the Midwest Sectionals. The Iolverin THE betweent place in p 7-2 score showed d this seas r past nes won the match, 5-4. SECOND meeting the two powerhouses took Ann Arbor on April 3. The in favor of the Wolverines the progress and ability of on's team. TONY GROVER Hometown: Midland Immediate Tennis Goals: To be Big Ten Champs Age Began Playing Tennis: Eight Junior Career: No. 20 in Westerns Favorite Part of Game: Volley Dream Match: To play John McEnroe Most Admired Player: John McEnroe for his style of play CHRIS COLWELL Hometown:La Jolla, Calif. Age Began Playing Tennis: 10 Junior Career: No. 14 in South California Favorite Part of Game: backhand Weirdest Occurrence on Court: Opponent . 3' !'brought his childhood teddy bears on the court for support Dream Match : To play Ille Nastase Most Admired Player: John McEnroe ANDREW ADLER Hometown: Holliswood, N.Y. Age Began Playing Tennis: Seven Junior Career: No. 18 in boy's 18's ETA Dream Match: Playing in the Big Ten y Championship finals, playing the deciding match for the team championship Most Admired Player: Jimmy Connors Nagel: free-spirited tennis star By JULIE HOLLMAN Laid-back, pessimistic, carefree, and mellow are usually not the words to describe a champion in any field, but junior Ed Nagel has managed to incorporate these qualities into his lifestyle and tennis game, and use them positively to come out a winner. 1 Nagel has enjoyed a great amount of success since picking up a tennis racquet at the age of 11. After a fruitful junior career in which he reached the number eight slot nationally, Nagel now enjoys an equally rewarding collegiate career. Currently, he is ranked ninth in the country in singles and 36th in doubles. Often, when players achieve a Ireat deal of success, they become ,._._,....c a --... T...1,. happens I play." Because of this outlook, Nagel works harder and harder to improve, using the qualities of his personality to work to his advantage. "Ed has an unbelievable attitude for as good as he is," said teammate and doubles partner Ed Filer. "He takes the attitude that he has to keep working and he gives respect to everyone he plays. He never takes them lightly. But even so, he is very confident. He never thinks he is going to lose." Nagel's personality played a key role in his transferring to Michigan from Pepperdine. "I came to Michigan because it has the best program in the Midwest and I wanted to come home," said the rounded so people can't do too much to hurt me. I'm good at returning their best shots. I'm flexible. I stay on the baseline but I don't base my game on it." Another admirable characteristic Nagel readily exemplifies is unselfishness. He likes to think of the team first and then about individual goals. Also, he always tries to offer helpful advice to his teammates. "Ed is more concerned about the team than hinself," said team captain John Royer. "He does things that are more benificial to the team and he always helps people. He knows more about the game than most coaches and he has a lot to offer." IN ADDITION to helpful professional hockey career over a tennis career. Nagel finds several parallels between his style of play in each sport. "With hockey, it's like hands and feet. It's being able to stop and have balance and quickness and being talented with moving the puck around.," he explained. "Playing hockey when I was younger is probably where I got the balance and quickness I use in tennis. WHETHER HE picked it up from hockey or not, Nagel's movement represents the best aspect of his game. He repeatedly amazes even his teammates by getting to everything. But this talent did not come easily. Like with the rest of his game, Nagel