Jim Schwitters, the winningest coach in collegiate tennis history, developed an unorthodox recruiting strategy before retiring from the University of Hawai'i. When he brought a recruit in, Schwitters would take him anywhere but the UH tennis courts.

The facility's faults were so obvious, Schwitters didn't want prospective players to get a peek. For two seasons, the Rainbows played "home" matches across O'ahu but nowhere near Manoa. Their courts simply weren't safe.

Now, after a near-complete $3.1 million makeover, it is safe to say Hawai'i has a tennis home worthy of its wonderful weather. A recruit is encouraged to get up close and personal with the new 12-court complex, in use since January.

"It's great, it makes a big difference," UH sophomore Derrick Lajola said after his first look at the courts. "Now we can bring East Coast guys out here and fry 'em."

There has yet to be an official "grand opening," but the Western Athletic Conference Championship was here in May for the first time since 1984.

"I thought the facility was outstanding and one of the premier complexes in the league," said WAC assistant commissioner Lisa Vad Thorner. "The student-athletes really enjoyed the facility. There was only positive feedback regarding the complex. We look forward to coming back to Hawai'i for future championships."

Men's coach John Nelson believes it is the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Manoa and "island tennis."

"It's not just about University of Hawai'i tennis," Nelson says. "Well, it is. We're expecting to develop a Top-20 program and have national champions here. But we also want to develop juniors and start working with the USTA (U.S. Tennis Association)."

Two Nike Camps and Hawai'i Pacific Sectionals have been played on the courts, along with elite junior competitive training centers. A Honolulu Futures pro event is scheduled for November. Nelson envisions adult clinics and camps, and a booster club that provides members a place to play for a price, and opens the facility to the public much like masters swimming across the quarry at the UH pool.

Now, students, faculty and staff — and their guests — are the only ones allowed most of the time. And they only get on with the proper shoes. Only tennis-specific tennis shoes (think wide toe and no black soles) are allowed; even most cross-trainers leave marks and are unacceptable.

That's always the way it's been at UH, but until the renovation added a peripheral fence, so the facility can be locked, it was impossible to enforce and left the school open to injury claims.

Nelson would like it locked less, particularly at night (it is only open Monday and Wednesday evenings now) and on weekends. He sees a "clubhouse" with offices and locker rooms in the future, and a thriving UH/community home for promoting the game and his program, which will return a multi-national roster including Canada's Bryon Weinberg and Australia's Ryan Sceats.

"It's unbelievable, it is a beautiful complex," Nelson says. "I honestly think it's one of the nicest tennis complexes in the nation."

From the multiple viewing areas to the lights that can transform midnight in the quarry to high noon.

"It's like daytime," Nelson insists. "These are some of the best lights I've seen, maybe next to only the U.S. Open. ... It's a first-class facility. The administration did a great job planning it. They did it right."

Now UH has to make it work, and complement the 20-court Central O'ahu Regional Park complex in Waipi'o. That will take planning and, probably, the support of the USTA and public.

Nelson's infinite enthusiasm has hooked USTA/Hawai'i Pacific Section executive director Ron Romano.

"It has been such a wonderful relationship with UH since John came on," Romano said. "His vision of where he wants to go includes us in a lot of ways. It only makes sense to have a very close relationship with the university and its tennis facility.

"We're both doing the same thing. We want to promote tennis. ... We've kind of reached out to each other."

Nelson wouldn't have it any other way.

"I'm very patient," he says. "And persistent."