Tuesday, June 1, 1999 - The Michigan Daily - 13
'M' Athletic Department nears
decision on men's tennis coach
Will assistant Goldberg take reins of talented recruiting class?
Ryan Herrington bumped into the late Adam Miller and his family at the Rose Bowl
in 1998. "He had never been more excited about his alma mater," said Herrington.
I ate sportis editor Miller
O&sfred Michi an pnde
here's an unwritten rule in one's sympathy. Not only was he a
sports journalism that goes: good writer but also a computer whiz
"No cheering in the press box." who would go on to design the
For Adam Miller, however, it was award-winning website for WDIV-
more of a guideline than a rule, at TV Channel 4. He was a talented
least anytime his musician and an outstand-
beloved Wolverines were ing student, graduating
involved in the game or Phi Beta Kappa in 1994
match at hand. and also receiving a mas-
You see to Adam, the ter's in journalism from
Wolverines were more the University.
than simply a brand of Sadly, Adam Miller
athletics to cover neu- died May 26 due to com-
trally as a reporter. They plications from his ill-
sere a passionate para- ness. He was 27.
he considered a plea- Since moving away
sure to watch and a priv- ADAM MILLER from Ann Arbor after
ilege to cover during his EOiTOR 1993-94 graduation and beginning
days as a student at the my life as an adult, I have
University and a sports Th rarely missed a Michigan
writer and editor at The football game, whether
Michigan Daily from Wolverines watching on TV or attend-
1990-94. were o ing in person at the Big
I can remember sitting passionate House. Yet none have
next to Adam in the parable he proved more enjoyable
ss box at Michigan considered a than those I watched my
Stadium, covering the pleasure to senior year with Adam.
Notre Dame football watch and a I bumped into him and
game our senior season . . his family at the 1998
of 1993. For the first privilege to Rose Bowl in Pasadena
time since we enrolled at cover. prior to kickoff, and
school, Michigan was ~ talked to him for a few
the favorite against the Irish. and yet minutes about the undefeated season
Notre Dame would break our hearts and the potential for a national cham-
again with a 27-23 upset. pionship. You could tell he had never
The turning point of the game been more excited about his alma
came on a long option run for a mater or more proud of what it was
iuchdown by unheralded Notre about accomplish.
*me quarterback Kevin McDougal. I'm just proud to say I knew Adam
As he raced for the end zone, I heard Miller, that I had a chance to work
Adam quite audibly exclaim, "No. with him (covering football, men's
No. This can't be happening." and women's basketball, volleyball
Oh yes, he bled maize and blue. and an assortment of other sports),
At the same time Adam was cheer- go to class with him, talk sports with
ing for Michigan, we were cheering him, joke around with him. You'll
for Adam. He suffered from neurofi- never find a truer Michigan man.
bromatosis, a disease that causes Perhaps more importantly, you'll
tumors to develop along nerves that never find a better person. He, and
mtrol vision and speech. While his cheering, will be missed.
some physical limitations prohibited -- Rran Hei-ington, Class of 1994
him from certain activities, he never Managing Sports Editor
complained and never asked for any- The Michigan Daily, 1993-94
By Raphael Goodstein
Daily Sports Writer
Last year the Michigan men's ten-
nis team went out and played the role
of the underdog to near perfection,
finishing second in the Big Ten regu-
lar season and bringing excitement to
a season that was supposed to be for
rebuilding.
But last year the team lost its leg-
endary head coach Brian Eisner, who
is credited with building the tennis
department fror shambles into a top-
notch program that won 19 Big Ten
titles in his tenure.
Eisner announced his intentions to
retire during last season, and his
vacancy leaves a big question mark
on a team that otherwise seems tal-
ented enough to win another Big Ten
title.
Who will replace Eisner as the new
coach of the tennis team?
If history is any indicator, the next
coach will be hired from within the
department, and Dan Goldberg will
be the man.
Goldberg, Michigan's all-time
leading victory leader as a player and
Eisner's assistant coach since 1993,
is the only candidate that has been
mentioned as a possible replacement.
But a national search has been ongo-
ing since the end of the season.
Over fifty candidates applied for
the prestigious position and the field
has since been narrowed to Goldberg
and three others. Two of which have
already been interviewed in person.
"All of the candidates have great
experience," Senior Associate
Athletic Director Peggy Bradley-
Doppes said. "This has been a very
productive search."
Whoever takes over will inherit a
very talented team, led by No. I sin-
gles senior Matt Wright and a very
good incoming recruiting class.
"All three players will have an
impact in the lineup," Goldberg said.
The class is headed by Zachary
Held and Chris Rolf, but Chris Shaya
might be the darkhorse of the group.
"Held is an up-and-comer. This
year he should be one of the top 30
players in the country," Goldberg
said. "He's an excellent athlete."
Held made the finals of the
National Indoor Doubles
Championship, and with half f the
doubles lineup having graduated, he
is a contender to take one of the three
open spots.
Another candidate for a doubles
spot will be Rolf. At 6-3 and 190
pounds, he plays an aggressive serve-
and-volley game that is ideal for dou-
bles play.
"Chris is a tremendous talent, he's
a big kid with an outstanding chance
to be in the doubles lineup,"
Goldberg said.
See GOLDBERG, Page 15
The University of Michigan WHAT'S
REC Department of Recreational Sports
SPORTS INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM HAPPENING
NTRAMURALS
GOLF 2-PERSON TENNIS
TEAM SCRAMBLE SGLS & DBLS
ENTRIES DUE: ENTRIES DUE:
Wednesday 6/2, IMSB Thursday 6/3, IMSB
ENTRY FEE: ENTRY FEE:
$20 per team $5 for Singles
f$9 for Doubles-
TOURNEY DATE:
Friday 6/4 TOURNEY DATES:
U of M Golf Course F, Sa & Su 6/4, 5 & 6
Palmer Courts
NOTE: The U of M
POWERBARGolf Course has a POWERBAR FORMAT:
Spikeless Shoe policy Double Eliminatton
SOFTBALL SAND
VOLLEYBALL
ENTRIES TAKEN:
Wednesday 6/30 ONLY j ENTRIES TAKEN:
00 PM, IMSB Wednesday 6/30 ONLY
6:30 PM, IMSB
ENTRY FEE:
$50 per team ENTRY FEE:
$40 per team
MANAGER'S MTG:
MANDATORY MANAGER'S MTG:
Weds 6/30, 5:00 PM MANDATORY
Weds 6/30, 6:30 PM
PLAY BEGINS:
Tues 7/6 Elbel Fields PLAY BEGINS:
Tues 7/6 Elbel Courts
Catch all the exciting action
Softball Sand Volleyball
3-on-3 Basketbal Rller Hockey
At the Elbel fields and courts
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
evenings 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm.
For Additional Information Contact: Intramural Sports Prograin, IMSB, 606 E. Hoover,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-3717, (734)763-3562 http:/wtvarecspurts.irmich.efir