Ken Alrutz, most recently the head men's and women's tennis coach at Miami University (Ohio)-Hamilton, has been named head men's and women's tennis coach at Wesleyan University, athletics director John Biddiscombe announced recently.

        Concluding his third year at Miami-Hamilton while also acting as a tennis professional at the Riverside Racquet Club in Hamilton, Ohio since 1999, Alrutz was the head men's tennis coach at Miami University (Ohio) in Oxford, Ohio from 1996 to 1999.  He also is a nine-year veteran head tennis coach at Virginia Military Institute, handling that duty from 1987 through 1996.  In addition to his coaching assignments, Alrutz taught English at both VMI and Miami.  He received VMI's Distinguished Coaching Award in 1990 and its Distinguished Teaching Award in 1992.  Miami's Associated Student Government presented him with an Honored Professor Award each year from 2000 through 2004.  He also acted as academic advisor to VMI's scholarship athletes during the summer of his final four years there.

        During his 12-year Division I coaching tenure, Alrutz had a cumulative record of 167-92 with 12 straight winning campaigns.  He led Miami to the Mid-American conference title in 1997, was named Mid-American Conference coach of the year in 1999 and was the Southern Conference coach of the year in 1992.  A certified member of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), Alrutz was the USPTA Mid-Atlantic collegiate coach of the year in 1995 and the USPTA Midwest collegiate coach of the year in 1999.

        At Miami-Hamilton, Alrutz won Ohio Regional Campus Conference Championships in both men's and women's play in 2002 and 2004.

        A graduate of California State College in Pennsylvania, Alrutz did his graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania.

        Alrutz has been on the Prince advisory staff for 17 years, an experience highlighted each year by conducting adult and junior clinics with such international tennis stars as Albert Costa, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Guillermo Coria and Xavier Malisse.

        Alrutz moves into the position at Wesleyan left vacant by the retirement of 38-year head coach Don Long, who retired in December, 2003.  The head men's and women's tennis position was filled on an interim basis during the spring, 2004 season.
        "We are happy to welcome Ken to the Wesleyan coaching staff," said Biddiscombe.  Ken's credentials, talent and successful experience as both a college men's and women's tennis coach and teaching professional make him an ideal successor to fomer long-time coach Don Long."