KEVIN BRANDALIK NAMED NEW MEN’S TENNIS HEAD COACH
Certified Tennis Professional Selected To Lead Ferris State Program
 The Ferris State University Athletics Department has appointed Kevin Brandalik (pronounced Bran-DA-lick) as the school’s 13th head men’s tennis coach in an announcement made by FSU Athletics Director Tom Kirinovic.
Brandalik, who had been the owner/operator of the KB Tennis Academy in Valrico, Fla., will also serve as head tennis professional for Ferris’ Racquet and Fitness Center, the school’s Professional Tennis Management (PTM) program and summer camps. He replaces Paul Marcum, who recently resigned to pursue other career interests.
“We’re excited to have Kevin join our athletics family,” Kirinovic said. “He has an experienced and varied background in the tennis industry and is a capable replacement to fill the shoes of Paul Marcum.
“Although we’re sorry to see Paul leave, we look forward to Kevin continuing the outstanding tradition we’ve had in our men’s tennis program,” added Kirinovic.
The 38-year old Brandalik has coached high level players for 15 years. In addition to running his own junior academy in Florida, Brandalik also coached a player on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Circuit and several International Tennis Federation (ITF) and national junior players. From 1996 to 2001, he was a player development coach for the United States Tennis Association's (USTA) Southern section. During that time, he also coached players who competed in Junior Davis/Fed Cup, the Mills/Redgrave Cup and the USTA's National Zonals Tournaments.
Prior to opening the KB Tennis Academy, Brandalik served as co-director of the Charlotte (N.C.) Tennis Academy, one of the top academies in the South, from 1996-2001. He also served as head coach for the USTA's area training center. Brandalik, who was voted the 1998 United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) North Carolina Pro of the Year, also received the Charlotte Tennis Monthly’s 1996 Top Teaching Professional Award.
“I’m ecstatic about this position,” Brandalik said. “The challenge of continuing Ferris’ great tennis tradition and being able to influence student-athletes in a positive way is appealing.
“The history of both the men’s tennis and PTM programs is outstanding so it should be a nice transition,” he added.
A certified USPTA professional, Brandalik has been active in the tennis community and received numerous awards. He was honored as the USPTA’s 1993 Virginia Pro of the Year and founded both the Charlotte Area Professional Tennis Association and the Hampton Roads Professional Tennis Association (Virginia Beach, Va.). Brandalik previously served as North Carolina’s USPTA President and was a USPTA Southern Division board member. He has also been a member of the USA Tennis Program's Advisory Board and the Reebok National Tennis Advisory Staff.
A 1982 graduate of St. Mary’s High School Academy in Hoosick Falls, N.Y., Brandalik received a bachelor’s degree in physical education/sports management from the State University of New York (SUNY)-College at Brockport in 1987. He is married to the former Tina Shenkel and the couple has three daughters, Alyssa (12), Amanda (10) and Alexa (8). His wife is a school teacher while all three daughters are tournament level tennis players.
Ferris State compiled a 14-6 overall mark, including a second place 7-1 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) finish during the 2001-02 campaign. Marcum, the 2002 Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Great Lakes Region Coach-of-the-Year, guided the Bulldogs to their sixth NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance in his final season.
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