Adam Steinberg named new M Tennis head coach (slam dunk hire)

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

With the recent firing of former Michigan Tennis Coach Bruce Berque, Dave Brandon had to fill the HC spot for Michigan's 3rd-oldest sport.

He hit a grand slam with this head coaching hire after already making a pretty damn good hire just months ago with Dr. Marcelo Leonardi being named the Water Polo HC.

Adam Steinberg from Pepperdine. He put together a 265-92 record there as well as going 36-2 in 2006 en route to the NCAA National Championship.

In his 13 years at Pepperdine, Steinberg produced-

  • 27 First Team ITA All-Americans
  • 32 First Team All-West Coast Conference selections
  • Won 10 WCC Tournament Championships as well as 2 WCC Regular Season titles.
  • 10 NCAA Tournament appearances that included five Sweet 16s, one Elite 8, two Final 4s and the 2006 NCAA National Championship
  • 10 of his 13 Pepperdine Wave teams finishing in the final Top-30 ITA rankings

He was named the 2006 ITA National Coach of the Year as well as being a 7-time WCC Coach of the Year recipient. 

Having that kind of national success at a small school like Pepperdine is absolutely incredible. 

ohio should fear this man because Michigan is coming for the top spot in the B1G. 

MGoBlue Release

Say what you want about Dave Brandon, but he has been one of if not the greatest AD of all-time in terms of his coaching hires and paying for quality, across the board of Michigan Athletics.

Men's Soccer, Baseball, Men's Track, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Basketball, Water Polo, Men's Tennis. Every one of those hires have been or are going to be slam dunk hires.

Not to mention the Beilein contract extension back in 2010-11 when many people were questioning him as well as paying bookoo bucks for Football coordinators.

Nard Dogg

June 16th, 2014 at 1:57 AM ^

But you are right. I actually know someone else they contacted about the position (another D1 top 25 coach) and DB offered to double his salary. I wouldn't doubt Steinberg was offered the same thing to lure him from Malibu.



Either way, like OP said, it was a slam dunk hire. He has an incredible track record and he is (by all accounts I've heard) loved by his players and community. With the #4 recruiting class in the country coming in--plus returning four of their six starters in Petrone, Rossi, Sefan, and Wong--I'm excited to see what Steiney does. Incoming freshman Runhao Hua from China made it to the round of 16 at the 2014 Australian Open Jrs tournament, and Cameron Norrie is a leftie currently 638 in the world. Plus the other three American incoming freshmen are all top 50 recruits. Should be good times at the VTC in coming years.

teldar

June 15th, 2014 at 11:11 PM ^

It's French, actually, not bookoo. I don't remember where I learned that, I think I've only actually seen it in print once before. Twice now, as I've never written or typed it myself either.

Mr. Yost

June 16th, 2014 at 8:27 AM ^

The fact remains he's a tremendous athletics director when you actually understand what an athletics director does in 2014.

Is he a man of the people? Is he a voice for all Michigan fans everywhere? Hell no. But that's not his job. Hell, that's Brian's job a hell of a lot more than it is Dave Brandon's.

I'd much rather have an AD more worried about the bottom line than making everyone happy.

Prince Lover

June 16th, 2014 at 1:36 AM ^

It is so obvious to anyone who pays attention that DB loves UM and wants UM to be the best, in every aspect there possibly is.

I won't say he he doesn't ruffle some feathers, but no one can realistically say he doesn't want what is best for UM.

Edit: He wants what is best for UM, I won't argue with anyone over what he wants from the fans ' wallets.

4roses

June 16th, 2014 at 9:00 AM ^

As on that likes to criticize DB for other things I cannot argue this point. In fact, the OP even missed on of his homerun hires - Mens Swimming coach Mike Bottom. He won a National title in his second year I believe. 

Alton

June 16th, 2014 at 9:51 AM ^

Mike Bottom was hired as the head coach of the men's swimming team in 2008 by William Martin, not David Brandon.

Brandon made Bottom the coach of both swimming teams (men's and women's) in 2012, but Bottom's tenure as coach of the men's swimming team started in the 08/09 season.

Zoltanrules

June 16th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^

In the non revenue sports, reasonable success doing it the right way with scholar athletes is more imprortant to me as an alum. If DB demands to have really high winning expectations in these particular sports, then it should apply to across the board. Beilein clearly is doing a great job, and Red is a legend who has earned some free passes. In this DB world, Brady needs at least 9 wins next season, or else should he meet the same fate as these other axed coaches?