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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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February 25, 2002 |
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Dick Ernst Steps Down As
Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach
at Rhode Island College |
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Providence, RI—Dick Ernst
has resigned, effective immediately, as Rhode Island College’s Head
Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach due to personal reasons. A search
for a new head coach will begin immediately. |
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"Due to complications
with the Rhode Island State Retirement Board," Ernst says,
"I can only coach at one level, either high school or college, at
a state institution. I’m currently in my 41st year of
coaching high school hockey at Cranston High School East and do not
want to give up that part of my coaching life. I am really going to
miss coaching tennis at Rhode Island College. My 12 years there have
been very exciting and fulfilling. Unfortunately, I had to make a
choice that I really didn’t want to make, but I am sure the tennis
program at RIC will continue to flourish under new leadership." |
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As the women’s tennis
program’s head coach, Ernst compiled a career record of 90-54-2 in
12 years at the helm. Ernst won the Little East Conference
Championship four times (1994, 1995, 1999 and 2001). This past fall,
the Anchorwomen were 12-3 and won the LEC title for the second time in
the past three seasons. |
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He compiled a 77-53 record
as the men’s skipper in 12 seasons. During his tenure, Coach
Ernst’s team captured the Little East Conference Championship in
1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995. He is one of only two coaches in LEC
history to win four consecutive Little East titles on the men’s
side. In 2001, the RIC men’s tennis team was 7-7 overall and placed
third at the LEC Championships. |
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His eight Little East
Conference titles are more than every Rhode Island College Head Coach,
past or present, combined. |
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He has coached and competed
in tennis at almost every level, always achieving great success. He
began his coaching career at Providence College, where he was the Head
Coach from 1970-75. He then took over the Head Coaching duties at
Cranston High School East, where he won two New England Championships
and had one state runner-up squad. |
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As a competitor, he was a
four-time Rhode Island Closed Tennis finalist and a champion in 1969.
He is a three-time Rhode Island Open finalist and won the event in
1968. He is a six-time Rhode Island Tennis League singles finalist and
a three-time champion. During an eight-year stretch, he was
undefeated. He was ranked in the New England Tennis Association’s
"A" Division for 11 years and was ranked in various NETA
divisions for over 30 years. In 1975, Ernst captured the New
England Class B singles title, the Rhode Island Open Junior Veterans
singles title, and the New England Junior Veterans Hardcourt
Championship. |
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Ernst is a Frank Lanning
Award recipient for his contributions to Rhode Island
athletics. Ernst was recently inducted into the Rhode Island
Tennis Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame. He resides in Cranston,
Rhode Island with his wife, Rollie. |
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The Rhode Island College
men’s tennis team opens the 2002 campaign at the University of Rhode
Island on Mar. 22. |
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AP TRANSACTION: |
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RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE:
Announced the resignation of Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach
Dick Ernst |
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-end- |