Brian Eisner
Encyclopedia
Brian Eisner is an American
tennis
player and coach. He played collegiate tennis at Michigan State University
from 1960 to 1962. From 1963 to 1969, he was the head tennis coach at the University of Toledo
. During his 30 years as the head coach of the men's tennis team at the University of Michigan
, he led the team to 18 Big Ten Conference
championships. He is the winningest tennis coach in University of Michigan history and has been inducted into the athletic halls of fame at both Michigan and Toledo.
, Eisner played collegiate tennis for Michigan State University
. He was the runner-up for the Big Ten Conference
singles championship in 1960 and was selected as the captain of the Michigan State Spartans
tennis team in 1961 and 1962.
. He served in that position until 1969, leading Toledo to four consecutive Mid-American Conference
championships from 1966 to 1969 and compiling a record of 76–30–1. Eisner's younger brother, Dean Eisner, was the No. 1 singles player for the Toledo Rockets in 1966.
men's tennis team. Upon arriving in Ann Arbor, Eisner began lobbying to enhance the university's tennis facilities and recruiting the nation's top tennis players and had success with players like Peter Fleming, Victor Amaya
, and Freddy de Jesus.
Eisner served as Michigan's head tennis coach from 1969 to 1999, compiling a record of 449–201 in dual meets and leading the Wolverines to 18 Big Ten Conference
tennis championships, including 16 consecutive conference championships from 1970 to 1982. In 1985, columnist Phil Nussel wrote in The Michigan Daily:
Eisner's Michigan teams finished in the top ten nationally six times. He also coached Mike Leach
to the NCAA singles championship
in 1982. In 1976, Sports Illustrated
published a feature story about Eisner's success in building the Michigan tennis program into a national powerhouse despite playing in the frigid upper Midwest. The reporter compared Eisner's success at Michigan to an ice hockey team from Brazil taking on the Russians. Eisner modestly told the Sports Illustrated reporter, "I have everything going against me: weather, facilities, money. How can I possibly compete with USC, Stanford and UCLA?" Eisner then answered, "Coaching." The article continued:
Eisner was also credited with being a key figure in the development of the Michigan Varsity Tennis Center. Eisner achieved his 500th career win as a coach in NCAA dual matches in 1998.
In January 2011, Eisner was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
. He was also inducted into the University of Toledo
's Varsity "T" Hall of Fame in 1993.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player and coach. He played collegiate tennis at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
from 1960 to 1962. From 1963 to 1969, he was the head tennis coach at the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
. During his 30 years as the head coach of the men's tennis team at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, he led the team to 18 Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
championships. He is the winningest tennis coach in University of Michigan history and has been inducted into the athletic halls of fame at both Michigan and Toledo.
Early years
A native of Manitowoc, WisconsinManitowoc, Wisconsin
Manitowoc is a city in and the county seat of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The city is located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Manitowoc River. According to the 2000 census, Manitowoc had a population of 34,053, with over 50,000 residents in the surrounding communities...
, Eisner played collegiate tennis for Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. He was the runner-up for the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
singles championship in 1960 and was selected as the captain of the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
tennis team in 1961 and 1962.
University of Toledo
In September 1963, Eisner ws named the head coach of the men's tennis team at the University of ToledoUniversity of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
. He served in that position until 1969, leading Toledo to four consecutive Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
championships from 1966 to 1969 and compiling a record of 76–30–1. Eisner's younger brother, Dean Eisner, was the No. 1 singles player for the Toledo Rockets in 1966.
University of Michigan
In September 1969, Eisner was hired as the head coach of the Michigan WolverinesMichigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
men's tennis team. Upon arriving in Ann Arbor, Eisner began lobbying to enhance the university's tennis facilities and recruiting the nation's top tennis players and had success with players like Peter Fleming, Victor Amaya
Victor Amaya
Victor Amaya is a former American male professional tour tennis player.The left-handed Amaya's career high ranking was World No. 15, which he attained in June, 1980....
, and Freddy de Jesus.
Eisner served as Michigan's head tennis coach from 1969 to 1999, compiling a record of 449–201 in dual meets and leading the Wolverines to 18 Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
tennis championships, including 16 consecutive conference championships from 1970 to 1982. In 1985, columnist Phil Nussel wrote in The Michigan Daily:
"There is no doubt in my mind that the top active coach at Michigan today is mens tennis coach Brian Eisner. That's a tough proclamation to make with the likes of Bo SchembechlerBo SchembechlerGlenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
, Bud MiddaughBud MiddaughForest L. "Bud" Middaugh is a former American baseball coach. He was the head baseball coach at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio from 1968 to 1979 and at the University of Michigan from 1980 to 1989. He compiled a record of 359-173 at Miami, leading the Redhawks to three Mid-American Conference...
and Bill FriederBill FriederBill Frieder is a former basketball coach at the University of Michigan and Arizona State University . Just before the 1989 NCAA Tournament, Frieder announced that he would leave Michigan for Arizona State at the end of the season...
on hand. But then again, none of these coaches can claim to have won 14 straight Big Ten titles. Eisner took his Wolverine squads to the Big Ten championship from 1970-1983. After that, he took these teams to the NCAA tournament -- all 14 years."
Eisner's Michigan teams finished in the top ten nationally six times. He also coached Mike Leach
Mike Leach (tennis)
Michael E. Leach is a former collegiate and ATP Tour professional tennis player who won the NCAA singles championship in 1982 while attending the University of Michigan.-Early years:...
to the NCAA singles championship
NCAA Men's Tennis Championship
The NCAA Men's Tennis Championships are held to crown a team, individual, and doubles champion in American college tennis. The first intercollegiate championship was held in 1883, 23 years before the founding of the NCAA, with Harvard's Joseph Clark taking the singles title...
in 1982. In 1976, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
published a feature story about Eisner's success in building the Michigan tennis program into a national powerhouse despite playing in the frigid upper Midwest. The reporter compared Eisner's success at Michigan to an ice hockey team from Brazil taking on the Russians. Eisner modestly told the Sports Illustrated reporter, "I have everything going against me: weather, facilities, money. How can I possibly compete with USC, Stanford and UCLA?" Eisner then answered, "Coaching." The article continued:
"Eisner's confidence and powers of persuasion are commanding. His aim, when talking to parents, is to turn every promise of fun in the sun made by his Sunbelt rivals into a threat. He is high on the strong academic tradition at Michigan and actually sings The Victors when high school seniors visit the campus on football Saturdays. . . . This puffery notwithstanding, Eisner's strongest selling point is his record. In the last three years, Michigan has finished fourth, third and seventh in the NCAA championships. No other team outside the sunshine states has finished as high as third in 10 years."
Eisner was also credited with being a key figure in the development of the Michigan Varsity Tennis Center. Eisner achieved his 500th career win as a coach in NCAA dual matches in 1998.
Later years and honors
After retiring as Michigan's tennis coach, Eisner became an owner of the Liberty Sports Complex in Ann Arbor.In January 2011, Eisner was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
The University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
. He was also inducted into the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
's Varsity "T" Hall of Fame in 1993.