Lakeland College

Men's Tennis Coach

Muskies tap Lakeland Hall of Famer for men's tennis job

Doron Green has served Lakeland College in a number of roles since graduating in 1970. He seems to have a little extra enthusiasm for his latest endeavor.

Green, a Fond du Lac resident, has been named Lakeland's head men's tennis coach, a fitting way to bring his tennis career full circle. Green was elected to the Lakeland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991 to honor a tennis career where he played No. 1 singles for the Muskies for virtually four years, was team captain and most valuable player for three years, an all-district honoree and conference singles and doubles champion as a senior.

"I'm looking forward to sharing 45 years of tennis experience with the team," Green said. "I think it will have a positive impact on them as individuals and as tennis players. I think about the things tennis taught me like self control, concentration, putting your mind to things, reach deep down and finishing something even though you're tired and you really don't want to finish. But you've been out there just as long as the other guy, so you might as well win."

Green, a retired first vice president with Robert W. Baird, is also a Lakeland Trustee, having been elected to the Board in 1991. He's also a past president of the Lakeland College Alumni Association.

"I'm excited to be back on campus and have contact with the students," Green said. "It's the students that make this place."

He inherits a team that includes sophomore Andre Glass, the Northern Athletics Conference rookie of the year who won the conference No. 1 singles title as a freshman, and junior Matt Rutlin, who teamed with Glass to finish second in the league at No. 1 doubles and was also NAC rookie of the year as a freshman.

"What a great opportunity for our tennis players to be able to work with Doron, who has accomplished so much since graduating," said Lakeland athletic director Jane Bouche. "Aside from his passion for tennis, he will truly be a role model for our student athletes both on the court and in the classroom."

Green graduated from Gow High School in upstate New York where he played tennis for four years. After graduating from Lakeland, he taught tennis under former Davis Cup Coach Ed Faulkner, and continued playing tennis in the Navy where he won the U.S. Atlantic Fleet singles and doubles titles in 1971 and 1972. He continued playing until shoulder problems sidelined him in 2000.

"You know, if I hang around long enough I'm sure I'll pick up a racket," Green said with a chuckle.