Before making the 700-plus mile journey back to Arkansas last summer, Eduardo Rincon felt the urge to make a phone call to his wife, Rosemary. Then an assistant tennis coach at the University of Arkansas, Rincon was feeling confidently energized after interviewing to be the head men’s coach at KSU.
“If these people offer me the job,” Rincon told Rosemary, “I’m going to accept it. I’m not even going to ask any questions or how much they pay, because this is a program that can do great things in the near future.”
KSU had just parted ways with coach TJ Greggs, leaving a vacancy that was perfect for a first time head coach. Rincon said he spent a lot of time after the interview waiting by the phone, hoping for the job offer. The call eventually came early one Tuesday morning, and Rincon accepted immediately. Head coaching, though, is just the latest chapter of a tennis story that has reached essentially every level in the tennis world.
Rincon is unable to recall the first time he touched a racquet. Tennis was—and still is—a family business for the Rincons. His father coached, and the influence of his brothers Mario and Jose led him from their native Colombia to the world- renowned Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Fla., as a 16-year-old. A maturing Eduardo was able to take cues from the legendary players who spent some time at the academy, such as Andre Agassi and Monica Seles.
Rincon called Bradenton home for about a year-and- a-half before deciding it was time to move on. Instead of attending college, he decided to turn professional. He participated in ATP events and even represented Colombia nine times in the Davis Cup, winning three matches.
“Playing (in the) Davis Cup is the one experience that I cherish the most,” Rincon said. “It gave me the opportunity to be a celebrity for a short period of time.”
Rincon’s career started to fade, as many professional careers do. Eventually, he took the advice of some friends and began a hall-of-fame playing career at Division II Valdosta State. Graduating in 2005 and knowing his playing days were behind him, he kept the competitive flame alive as a coach. Stops at Alabama and Arkansas followed, but Rincon yearned for an opportunity to be a head coach.
Thirteen years after his final match in the Davis Cup, Rincon begins his first spring season as head coach for a KSU men’s program that has never qualified for the Atlantic Sun playoffs. Rincon,will not be overly concerned with the squad’s record, instead choosing to emphasize
player development.
“We’re trying to stay away from the numbers,” Rincon said. “We want to focus on improving every day.”
Another focus of Rincon’s tenure will be to connect with local talent. The coach has quickly recognized the strong tennis hotbed that is Metro Atlanta and wants to take advantage of it.
“That is my main goal here at Kennesaw State—to reach out to the local players and the local community,” he said.
Five players will return from last year’s squad that went 5-14 last spring, and three freshmen were added in the fall: Jake Bouchillon, David Durham and Simon Pritchard. However, the Owls will have one unexpected absence: 6-foot-4 inch sophomore Tobi Menhofer has elected to return to his native Germany for personal reasons.
If the task of taking over a program with just a 9-37 conference record in its entire history seems daunting, Rincon probably does not notice—he is too busy enjoying the moment.
“I had to slow down a little bit,” he said, speaking about the team’s first practice. “Because I’m just so excited about the season. I just can’t wait to coach my first match as a head coach.”
Rincon and the KSU men open up the season Sunday, Jan. 19 against Florida Atlantic.
