THE ASSOCIATION

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History of Our Association

In 1976 Bob Wood realized that there was a definite need for an organization through which coaches could improve their coaching and quality of their teams. He first set out by sending 400 letters to all schools with tennis programs in the state and received in return a substantial number of positive responses for establishing an association of tennis coaches. He then contacted Warren McKenzie, assistant director of the MHSAA in charge of tennis, to map out the state into five districts. Subsequently, he appointed Charles Partin of East Grand Rapids as president, Bob Quinn of Saginaw MacArthur as first vice-president, Sandy Peterson of Portage Northern as second vice-president, and personally assumed the role of secretary/treasurer. District committees were formed, directors and assistant directors were named, and the organization was formally founded in 1976. Its first summer meetings were held at Houghton Lake in July, 1977. With the group now established, Wood began to organize the first of many highly successful coaches clinics in February, 1977, at East Detroit. Brian Eisner, mens varsity coach at the University of Michigan, and the late Ian Laver, a teaching pro from Delray Beach, Florida, were featured as the main speakers at Eastpointe, which attracted 126 coaches that first year. Bob was encouraged by the positive comments and words of appreciation for his mighty efforts. With this initial thrust into the clinic business, Bob Wood with the assistance of Gary Bodenmiller of the Grosse Pointe Indoor Tennis Club has since developed innovative ideas which have made our Michigan Workshop one of the very best clinics in the entire nation.

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