THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 23, 1994 TAG: 9408230548
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Abe Goldblatt
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Ken Rand, the senior-ranking coach at Old Dominion University, said Monday he is stepping down as men's tennis coach after 21 years of service to assume a full-time teaching job in the health, physical education and recreation department at ODU this fall.
``While I will miss coaching and my association with the athletes, I'm excited about my new position at ODU,'' Rand said, ``and I'm looking forward to having weekend time available in the fall and spring to spend with my family.''
Rand, the conference coach of the year last season, leaves a tennis program that has enjoyed 20 consecutive winning seasons.
He is credited with expanding the ODU schedule beyond the Colonial Athletic Association to include such tennis powers as Duke, Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina and South Carolina. He played a major role in the expansion of the tennis facilities at ODU to include eight new outdoor courts, plus a stadium court for championship matches.
The graduation rate of his players was 86.7 percent.
During his 21 years, Rand produced two state champions and a CAA championship. He was also named Colonial coach of the year in 1992-93.
While no official announcement has been made, ODU women's tennis coach Darryl Cummings is expected to succeed Rand as men's coach, too. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ken Rand
by CNB