Fresno State Athletics
On Dancer
10/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Oct. 23, 2001
By Chennelle Miller, Fresno State Media Relations
From the Great Lakes to the Grand Canyon, Brad Dancer has finally arrived in the Valley. He has come full circle in the realm of tennis and is ready to make his mark as the Fresno State men's tennis coach.
Dancer first entered the sport as a prepster at his high school in Mason, Mich. He says he wasn't an exceptional player, but it does take a decent tennis player to earn a scholarship to play tennis at Michigan State. In 1993, he concluded his collegiate career, but not before competing at the No. 1 singles and doubles spot, not to mention earning All-Big Ten accolades. Despite his honorable accomplishments Dancer felt he would be better suited to coach the game, rather that play professionally.
"I just felt I was a decent tennis player, not a great tennis player. I love to coach though," said Dancer.
Shortly after graduation, Dancer accepted the position of assistant men's tennis coach at his alma mater. Six years later, he stepped into the spotlight as an assistant on the United States Federation Cup team, captained by Billie Jean King. It was here that he truly recognized his calling as a coach.
Throughout his time with the team, he was able to scout and analyze some of the best players in the world - an experience with which he has applied to his more recent collegiate coaching career. After working on a daily basis with players such as Martina Navratilova and Alberto Brause, Dancer accepted a head coaching position at the University of Arizona in 1999 with the Pac-10 women's Wildcat team. Within his first season at the helm, Dancer directed the women to a berth in the NCAA tournament. During that time, Kevin Epley, the current head coach of the women's tennis team at Fresno State, was Dancer's assistant. Additionally, in 2000, the duo of Michelle Gough and Lindsay Blau earned Pac-10 doubles team of the year honors. He also had three student-athletes earn academic all-conference accolades. In both years of directing Arizona, the squads were ranked in the top 25.
This season, the Bulldogs welcome Dancer as their new men's tennis coach. He has quite a chore ahead of him. Fresno State has reached the NCAA tournament eight consecutive seasons, which included a quarterfinals finish in 1996 and the round of 16 in 1994-95, '97 and '99. The new head coach is well aware of the tradition here and is ready to continue it. In order for Dancer to do that, he must implement his own coaching style, in conjunction with migrating into a group of young men who have already established themselves as members of the elite in Fresno State tennis. The toughest part for Dancer was getting to know the team, a team whom he did not recruit.
"I certainly want to keep that tradition going. The team has been great, to say the least. When school first began they didn't have a head coach, and I think they've been very welcoming to me. I am very appreciative for that. It got me off on the right foot."
Dancer will have two and half months to work through the newlywed stage. He will have numerous practices to watch, learn, critique and praise his new crew. With each day will arise new situations, but Dancer is prepared. He is confident that in time his personal goals and the team's goals will intertwine. It's only a matter of time.
"We're taking it easy right now. I'm not in here to drastically change anything. I want to put my program into place, but that's going to take some time. Slowly, everyday we add new parts to the program. My goal is to have things in place by January. But right now, we as a team take it day by day."
As the countdown begins, be rest assured Dancer is considering the lingering questions in everyone's mind. Will they be ready? Is this the year of the Bulldogs? Let the countdown begin for the newly guided Fresno State men's tennis team. January is just around the corner. The only answer to any questions is, time will tell. Lead on Brad Dancer.
