Men's Tennis Adds Professional as Assistant Coach
Nov 6, 2002 | Men's Tennis
Nov. 6, 2002
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Head coach Robert Klein announced that Tulane University has hired professional tennis player Jack Brasington to assist with its men's tennis program.
Brasington is currently ranked No. 130 in the world and competed in all four Grand Slam events in the last year. After growing up in Miami, he attended the University of Texas, where he played tennis for four years (1995-99), becoming the winningest Long Horn tennis player in history with 121 wins. He worked as a volunteer assistant at Texas for one year.
"It is great to have such a quality person, accomplished collegian and top touring professional join our staff," Klein said. "Jack brings a great attitude to the team and his success as a current touring professional provides our student athletes a great role model. The only downside is that I just fell to a distant third seed for the tennis staff challenge."
Klein's other assistant is Ernesto Ponce, a former All-American at Texas who also played professionally. Klein, himself, was a standout player at Emporia State, where he won three NAIA District Championships. He was ranked as high as 26th nationally.
"I think it's great to help out with Tulane," Brasington said. "I miss the team atmosphere of college tennis. It is great when you get a bunch of good guys who work hard and everybody is pushing each other."
Tulane currently has a pair of top collegiate performers on its roster. Junior Michael Kogan (Kfar-Saba, Israel) is ranked No. 17 in the nation, while senior Victor Romero (Atizapan, Mexico) holds the No. 39 rating. The pair is ranked No. 5 in the country as a doubles duo.
The Green Wave will be in action at the Ragin' Cajun Classic this weekend in Lafayette, La.
Brasington and his fianc?e, Kimberly Johnson, recently moved to New Orleans. They plan to be married on Nov. 24.
