Hicks, Frank

Frank Hicks – (1989)

 

FRANK HICKS

Tack on 9 years and 107 wins coaching King’s girls tennis to 28 years and 415 wins with the boys’ counterpart and the 522 total ranks Frank Hicks as the top winner among Ohio’s active tennis coaches. Now coaching only the girls, Frank may yet better the state’s all time high of 577 victories held by Bexley’s retired, Jim Click.

Debuting in 1961 at Lorain Hi with a 3-4 record, Frank moved to Admiral King the ensuing year and fashioned a 3-9 slate. It was his last losing season over the 28 year period that has seen five undefeated years, seven Buckeye Conference and two Erie Shore titles.

It was in the early throes of defeat that Frank developed the game of “steady tennis” with his athletes. The theory was “If you can return the ball three times you are going to win a lot of points because the other guy will miss before you do.” It worked well enough for King teams to rank in the top ten in N.E. Ohio twelve times and in the state twice with 22 district and 8 state qualifiers including 5 singles players and 3 doubles teams.

Frank has encouraged his players to come to him with their problems. The kids know that he cares about what happens to them, in and out of school. He believes it is this involvement that has fostered 34 Buckeye Champions and 37 nominations to the Plain Dealer All-Star squad. Frank is extremely proud that 90% of his players have entered college and 28 have played on their college teams.

Frank has directed the city tournaments for 20 years, the International Doubles for 7 years and Boys and Girls Summer Leagues for 24 years. In a personal vein he has been singles and doubles champion in Fairview Park and Norwalk, twice doubles champ at the West Side Tennis Club and holds numerous doubles titles in Lorain.

In retrospect, Frank will tell you “Lorain is a great sports town. The kids come to play. They produced for me and I am just thankful for being here—it game me the chance to do my thing.”