Former Ball State Tennis Star Gene Orlando Returns as Men's Tennis Head Coach
June 30, 2025 | Men's Tennis
MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell has announced the hiring of former Ball State men's tennis standout and hall of famer, Gene Orlando, as the next head coach of the Cardinals. Orlando takes over the reins from former head coach Bill Richards who recently announced his retirement after 53 years at the helm of the men's tennis program.
"I am delighted to name Gene Orlando as our new men's tennis head coach," said Mitchell. "Coach Orlando's extensive coaching experience, his love for Ball State and his proven ability to develop student-athletes give me great confidence that he will continue the culture of excellence within our program."
Orlando has spent the last three seasons as Richards' assistant coach. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Orlando was the head coach at Michigan State for 31 seasons before retiring after the 2022 campaign. The winningest men's tennis coach in MSU history, with 361 victories, he was also the longest-tenured men's tennis coach in the Big Ten Conference.
"I am honored and thrilled to continue on Coach Richards legacy as the new men's tennis coach," Orlando said. "Returning to my alma mater and to lead our Cardinals' tennis program fills me with immense passion and sincere gratitude. This opportunity unites all our alumni, our families and our fans in Coach Richards' legacy. I offer sincere thanks to athletic director Jeff Mitchell and senior associate athletic director Emma Kumar for their support and commitment to our tennis program and Cardinal Athletics.
At Michigan State, Orlando led the Spartans to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2013 and had four doubles teams and four singles compete at the NCAA Championships. His student-athletes earned All-Big Ten honors 21 times. In 2015, he mentored the first All-American doubles tandem in Michigan State history as Harry Jadun and John Patrick Mullane advanced to the national semifinals. He also helped the Spartans win a single-season record 18 matches in 2011 and 2012.
A 1987 graduate of Ball State, Orlando lettered in tennis from 1983 to 1987 and helped the Cardinals claim four straight Mid-American Conference championships and post a four-year MAC league mark of 29-0.
Orlando won the 1987 MAC No. 3 singles title after winning the league's No. 2 doubles and No. 4 singles crowns in 1986. He helped Ball State earn an 83-14 record over his career and served as a graduate assistant coach in 1987-88. As a graduate assistant, he helped the Cardinals earn another MAC crown.
"I couldn't be more pleased that Gene will be taking over for me as the next head coach at Ball State," Richards said. "He is a big part of our history and tradition as a great player and graduate assistant coach. He is a tremendous coach and person as well as a leader and motivator. He brings a world of experience after coaching at the Power-4 level for many years. He has also been very engaged with our alumni through the years and with our recent teams while his son Vince was an outstanding member of our team. All these factors make him the perfect hire. I want to thank Jeff Mitchell and Emma Kumar for making this transition happen. I'm excited about the future of the program."
Vince Orlando also was a four-year letterwinner for the Cardinals and was an assistant coach at Michigan State following his graduation from Ball State in 2024. He was recently hired as an assistant coach for Ole Miss.
"I am delighted to name Gene Orlando as our new men's tennis head coach," said Mitchell. "Coach Orlando's extensive coaching experience, his love for Ball State and his proven ability to develop student-athletes give me great confidence that he will continue the culture of excellence within our program."
Orlando has spent the last three seasons as Richards' assistant coach. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Orlando was the head coach at Michigan State for 31 seasons before retiring after the 2022 campaign. The winningest men's tennis coach in MSU history, with 361 victories, he was also the longest-tenured men's tennis coach in the Big Ten Conference.
"I am honored and thrilled to continue on Coach Richards legacy as the new men's tennis coach," Orlando said. "Returning to my alma mater and to lead our Cardinals' tennis program fills me with immense passion and sincere gratitude. This opportunity unites all our alumni, our families and our fans in Coach Richards' legacy. I offer sincere thanks to athletic director Jeff Mitchell and senior associate athletic director Emma Kumar for their support and commitment to our tennis program and Cardinal Athletics.
At Michigan State, Orlando led the Spartans to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2013 and had four doubles teams and four singles compete at the NCAA Championships. His student-athletes earned All-Big Ten honors 21 times. In 2015, he mentored the first All-American doubles tandem in Michigan State history as Harry Jadun and John Patrick Mullane advanced to the national semifinals. He also helped the Spartans win a single-season record 18 matches in 2011 and 2012.
A 1987 graduate of Ball State, Orlando lettered in tennis from 1983 to 1987 and helped the Cardinals claim four straight Mid-American Conference championships and post a four-year MAC league mark of 29-0.
Orlando won the 1987 MAC No. 3 singles title after winning the league's No. 2 doubles and No. 4 singles crowns in 1986. He helped Ball State earn an 83-14 record over his career and served as a graduate assistant coach in 1987-88. As a graduate assistant, he helped the Cardinals earn another MAC crown.
"I couldn't be more pleased that Gene will be taking over for me as the next head coach at Ball State," Richards said. "He is a big part of our history and tradition as a great player and graduate assistant coach. He is a tremendous coach and person as well as a leader and motivator. He brings a world of experience after coaching at the Power-4 level for many years. He has also been very engaged with our alumni through the years and with our recent teams while his son Vince was an outstanding member of our team. All these factors make him the perfect hire. I want to thank Jeff Mitchell and Emma Kumar for making this transition happen. I'm excited about the future of the program."
Vince Orlando also was a four-year letterwinner for the Cardinals and was an assistant coach at Michigan State following his graduation from Ball State in 2024. He was recently hired as an assistant coach for Ole Miss.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
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