Chris Garner Joins Ohio State Men’s Tennis Program – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sept. 5, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ohio-Ohio State announced the hiring of Chris Garner as the assistant coach for men’s tennis Monday.
Garner brings a wealth of experience as a player and coach to the Buckeye tennis program. A former No. 1-ranked U.S. Junior with 12 national titles, Garner also was an All-American at the University of Georgia before turning professional.
As a professional, Garner defeated Patrick Rafter, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Todd Martin, Malivai Washington and Patrick McEnroe as well as achieving an ATP ranking of No. 120.
Garner’s best finish professionally came at the 1993 Australian Open where he reached the Round of 16.
As a coach, Garner has worked with nationally- and internationally-ranked juniors along with professionals that have competed at the highest level of the sport.
“It is a great opportunity to represent The Ohio State University and assist Coach (Ty) Tucker,” Garner said. “Coach Tucker is known throughout the country as one of the most dedicated and passionate collegiate coaches. I look forward to helping the team improve as well as helping the players grow as individuals.”
Tucker expects Garner to impact the program immediately.
“We are excited to have Chris join the program,” Tucker said. “He has won at every level from juniors, college, and professional. When I learned (former assistant) Marc Wurtzman wanted to join the business world, this is who we wanted. I have known Chris for 25 years. He is as honest and hard working of a fellow as you will find. We as a tennis program look forward to the start of a new season.”
Ohio State finished No. 24 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association final national rankings in 2005. The national ranking marked the fifth-consecutive year the Buckeyes finished in the Top 25.
The Buckeyes were 20-9 overall and 10-3 in the Big Ten a year ago. Tucker is 128-41 overall and 59-16 against Big Ten opponents while coaching the Buckeyes.
After Ohio State’s 11 home wins last season, the team extended its home win streak to 28 matches. The Buckeyes received their sixth-consecutive bid to the NCAA team championships, where they advanced to the second round and fell, 4-2, to Tennessee.
The junior duo of Scott Green and Ross Wilson was named to the 2005 ITA All-America team after the pair finished the season No. 6 in the country. Green and Wilson captured back-to-back national doubles titles at the ITA All-American Championships Oct. 10 and the ITA National Indoor Championships Nov. 7. They became the first doubles team to capture both the ITA All-American title and the National Indoors title in the same season since 1992-93 and are the third team to do so in NCAA history.
The pair finished 28-8 overall with a 19-7 mark at the No. 1 doubles spot in 2004-05. They were ranked No. 1 in the ITA poll from Jan. 13 to April 26 and finished No. 1 in the Midwest Region.
