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