Frank Polito Jr. Joins Women’s Tennis Staff – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Aug. 2, 2001
%^$COLUMBUS, Ohio – Chuck Merzbacher, head coach of the Ohio State women’s tennis team has announced the addition of Frank Polito Jr., as an assistant coach. Polito, a Lorain, Ohio, native, joins the OSU family after serving as the head women’s tennis coach at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. His first day as a Buckeye was Aug. 1.%^$
%^$Polito, a 1990 Eastern Michigan graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications and Film, began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1990 with the men’s team. After five years at EMU, Polito coached his first women’s team at Sienna Heights College. He was there four months before being hired by then University of Kansas coach Chuck Merzbacher. At KU the team finished first in the Big 8 Conference and ended the year ranked No. 20 by the ITA. Merzbacher left for the OSU job in 1996 and Polito was named head coach on an interim basis. During this stint he mentored 1996 national Clay Court Doubles finalists Kylie Hunt and Christie Sim.%^$
%^$Polito was named assistant men’s tennis coach at KU in November 1996. He served in this capacity until September 1997 when he was named head women’s tennis coach at the University of Akron. At UA his team compiled the highest GPA among all sports.%^$
%^$In August 1999 he took over the reigns at ULM and guided the Lady Indian tennis team to the 2001 Southland Conference semifinals and a third-place finish. In 2001 he coached Julie Perovic – the conference Newcomer of the Year recipient.%^$
%^$Polito is affiliated with the Reebok Advisory Staff, United States Professional Tennis Association, Intercollegiate Tennis Association and the United States Tennis Association.%^$
%^$Polito replaces former assistant coach Chrissy Short.
