New coach seeks Rainbow revival

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

UH men's tennis coach John Nelson overlooks the construction of the new tennis courts on campus. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser Nelson file UH men's tennis head coach Previous positions: San Diego State head coach (1994-2003): Record of 129-108, qualified for five of last six NCAA Tournaments, reached Sweet 16 in 2000, won last three Mountain West regular-season championships. UC-Davis head coach (1988-94): Won 1990 NCAA Division II team championship, ranked in Top 5 nationally all five seasons, coached one singles player and three doubles teams to national titles. Cal State-Hayward head coach (1983-88): Top 10 DII national ranking each year. Honors Region VII Coach of Year (2000, 2002, 2003) Mountain West Conference Coach of Year (2002) Eight Northern California Athletic Conference Coach of Year awards Playing career NCAA DII All-American at Cal State-Hayward Played professionally in Europe and California Education Master's in education (Stanford) Bachelor's in physical education (Hayward) Associate of arts in physical education (Canada College, Calif.). And what's more Has coached eight DI All-Americans and 22 Division II All-Americans Third-degree black belt in jujitsu Single-digit handicapper in golf Works with tennis touring pro — and former San Diego State Aztec — Alex Waske of Germany, ranked No. 117 at end of 2003

Most would see a 3-10 Rainbow team rolling into its last regular-season road trip and be discouraged. Nelson sees a senior-free group of guys starting to see solutions instead of problems. "The guys," he says, "are starting to conduct themselves like winners."

When Nelson was hired to fill the well-worn shoes of Jim Schwitters, who retired last season after 38 years, the atmosphere surrounding Rainbow tennis changed from its laid-back state.

"John's come in and really turned everything upside down," said sophomore Ryan Sceats, one of just two returning players. "We're not the best players, but we're trying our best and doing OK. Absolutely, it's getting better."

Most of the players woke up ridiculously early in their offseason to train for tennis by doing jujitsu and were thankful when the season finally started. The 'Bows, by all accounts, learned their lessons well from a new coach with a third-degree black belt.

Players practiced martial arts to find focus, balance and a way to escape when they were about to be pinned — qualities they often need on the tennis courts.

Last month, the 'Bows watched their unplayable home courts finally go under the bulldozer. A 12-court complex is scheduled to be finished in September, in time for a November Futures event next season and the 2005 WAC Championships.

Until then, Hawai'i freshmen Derrick Lajola (Iolani), and Jamie Migia (Moanalua) and Burke Marold (Illinois) have been bonding with their older tennis brothers at Manoa Rec Center (practice) and Central O'ahu Regional Park (matches).

Last week Migia was the only Rainbow to win a match against 23rd-ranked Arkansas, at No. 6 singles. Lajola, whose younger brother Dennis is playing for Team USA in El Salvador this week, is at No. 4.

Nelson brought in transfers Dalibor Ptak (No. 1), originally from the Czech Republic, Bryon Weinberg (No. 3) from Toronto, and Travis Smith (No. 6 with an injury), from Texas. Nelson inherited his No. 2 — Sceats from Australia — and No. 5 — South African Jarrod Diepraam.

"We're kinda lucky because the whole team is new besides Ryan and Jarrod," Lajola said. "We can mesh and bond together. That's unique. Other teams, if Jamie and I came in as a couple freshmen and there were five returnees, then maybe it would be a little harder."

Adds Migia: "It feels good that it's a whole new team because we can see the team build and get better."

Nelson has no doubts about that. He has succeeded at every level so far and sees no reason Hawai'i can't break into the rankings (top 75 of 260 DI programs) next year and reach the Top 20 soon after.

His idea of being realistic is to start with winning the WAC, which has four teams in the Top 50. He sees Hawai'i as a "sleeping giant" which can lure top-ranked teams in for matches, and talented players if they believe in his dream.

"My goal is when people think of Hawai'i tennis, they think of Division I and Division II, national and pro tournaments," he says. "There's a lot going on. It's a great place for tennis. The thing I like about it is there are so many people here who love their tennis. Even when my courts were in bad shape people were out there waiting for practice to end so they could play. It was awesome."

Nelson talked to Schwitters when he interviewed for the position. Schwitters was characteristically blunt about the challenges to be faced. The neglected courts were clearly a sign that something was not right. Nelson did not blink.

"Jim told me point blank what was going on," Nelson recalled. "I looked at it and thought there was a ton of potential."

Nelson won a national title at UC-Davis without any scholarships and reached the Sweet 16 at San Diego State without ever giving the maximum of 4.5. He is confident he can bring in talented players, who are "persistent and conscientious," to paradise — and also keep the best Hawai'i players at home.

"I'm not here to retire," Nelson said. "I love it and I see the potential here. I want people to be proud of Hawai'i tennis."

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@ honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.