Polito Named Tennis Assistant

July 6, 2004

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Frank Polito has been named assistant tennis coach, University of Kansas head coach Amy Hall announced Tuesday. Polito, who has been working with junior tennis players in Ohio for the past six months, also served as a Jayhawk assistant coach in 1996.

Polito returns to Kansas after a coaching stint at Ohio State, where he was named the 2002 ITA Midwest Region’s Coach of the Year. He served as the women’s assistant coach from 2001 through the fall of 2003.

“I am thrilled to have Frank on staff,” head coach Amy Hall said. “With his knowledge of the national and international field of players, as well as his instructional on-court expertise, he will be a great weapon for us.”

The Lorain, Ohio, native played collegiately for Eastern Michigan University, serving as co-captain his sophomore and junior years. He lettered all four years and was captain his senior year.

Polito received his bachelor of science degree in telecommunications and film in 1990, and began coaching the EMU men’s team the same year. He enjoyed a five-year stint at his alma mater before serving as the women’s tennis coach at Sienna Heights University in Michigan for four months.

In his first stint with the Jayhawks in 1996, he served as interim head coach after former coach Chuck Merzbacher left for Ohio State. In November of 1996, he was named assistant men’s coach.

In 1997 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, Polito took over the reigns at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and guided the Lady Indian tennis team to the 2001 Southland Conference semifinals and a third-place finish.

“I am fired up to be a Jayhawk again,” Polito said. “I am looking forward to help carry on the tradition here at Kansas.”