A number of years in the past, Ty Tucker texted a photograph to athletic director Gene Smith of his Ohio State males’s tennis group at a voluntary follow.
It was Christmas.
Smith confirmed the textual content to his spouse, Sheila, who replied to Tucker.
“I believe she mentioned, ‘Get a life, Ty. Go house,’ ” Tucker recalled.
The 54-year-old Tucker does have a life outdoors of tennis. He’s married and has an grownup daughter. However apart from that, tennis virtually consumes him.
“Each time he steps on the court docket, he’s acquired probably the most vitality and probably the most ardour,” mentioned Robert Money, a fifth-year senior from New Albany. “No person loves what they do greater than he does.”
This weekend, Ohio State pursues the one achievement lacking from Tucker’s resume – an NCAA group championship. The highest-seeded Buckeyes (33-1) play Columbia within the quarterfinals on Thursday in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The ultimate two rounds are Saturday and Sunday.
Ohio State misplaced within the finals final yr to Virginia, the most recent in a succession of bitter NCAA shut calls. However this group might be Tucker’s deepest and most skilled. The highest two gamers, Justin Boulais and Cannon Kingsley, put professional careers on maintain principally to pursue an NCAA group championship.
“I don’t know what I’d do with that trophy, however I’d cover it for some time,” Tucker mentioned. “However we’ve acquired some work forward of us.”
A tennis prodigy
Tucker fell in love with tennis as a younger boy in Zanesville. His household joined the native nation membership, and he took golf classes from PGA Tour star Justin Thomas’ grandfather. However Tucker craved extra motion than golf offered. Tennis was a greater match, and he was a pure.
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He grew to become among the best junior gamers in the US. As a young person, Tucker enrolled on the well-known Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Andre Agassi was his roommate and doubles associate.
Tucker received loads of junior titles and had his choose of faculties. Ohio State was a middling program then, however Tucker, an enormous OSU soccer fan, wished to grow to be a Buckeye.
He was a two-time All-American because the No. 1 singles participant and turned professional after his junior season. However professional tennis is an unimaginable grind, on and off the court docket. Tucker performed in small tournaments all all over the world hoping to realize a foothold within the rankings. After a few years, he was prepared to maneuver on.
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He briefly took a job in Detroit instructing tennis earlier than OSU coach John Daly employed him as an assistant. Daly was a profitable coach, however the finish of his profession wasn’t fairly. The Buckeyes had been 0-10 in Massive Ten play in every of his final two years.
Tucker took over in 1999 and instantly reworked this system. Ohio State went 14-11 his first yr and received a spherical within the NCAA Event.
Since then, the Buckeyes have received 18 consecutive Massive Ten regular-season titles. From 2003-15, OSU had a 200-match house win streak, the longest by any group in any sport in NCAA historical past. This spring, Ohio State received its third indoor group nationwide title. Tucker’s file is 718-102.
What makes OSU’s success so exceptional is its location. No different Northern faculty rivals the Buckeyes’ success. Tucker should win recruiting battles over packages that may promote balmy climate as an alternative of the chilly and wind by which OSU usually should play. Ohio has produced quite a few prime gamers, however that is dwarfed by the variety of stars Southern states do.
“He recruits like mad,” Smith mentioned. “He’s a relentless recruiter, and he’s extraordinarily gifted at evaluating expertise. However he’s additionally exceptionally proficient at creating guys. There are some guys who usually are not fairly prepared and, abruptly you see them emerge.”
Tucker covets gamers who share the eagerness for tennis he does.
“It will get tougher these days in recruiting as a result of there are children that need to play tennis, however don’t need to reside tennis, don’t need to breathe tennis,” he mentioned. “To achieve success like we’re, now we have to search out youngsters that (take into account tennis) their enjoyable a part of the day.”
Ohio State practices are intense. He barks out Tucker-isms. If a participant isn’t shifting the way in which he needs, he’ll yell, “It’s footwork, not footplay.” Gamers are in fixed motion.
OSU soccer coach Ryan Day is a frequent customer. He and Tucker started forging a relationship in 2020 when Day was in search of a aggressive outlet in the course of the pandemic, and tennis was one of many few sports activities deemed protected.
Now he usually walks throughout the road from the Woody Hayes Athletic Heart to hit balls and watch follow.
“He will need to have fed thousands and thousands of balls in his profession,” Day mentioned. “He’s always attempting to push these guys. You possibly can’t take a degree off. In case you do, he’s going to be throughout you. He breeds a tradition of depth, competitiveness and psychological toughness.
“However he’s additionally clever. He understands the schematics of the sport, understands the panorama of school tennis, and what it takes to win.”
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Money, who’s 21-1 in twin matches this yr, grew up desirous to be a Buckeye. He plans to pursue medical faculty after ending at OSU.
“He has performed a lot for me and my teammates,” Money mentioned of Tucker. “My 5 years right here have been life-changing and a lot enjoyable. I’ve made one of the best recollections of my life, one of the best friendships of my life. He cares a lot for everyone on and off the court docket.
“He’s developed qualities and traits in me that I’ll want for the remainder of my life. The self-discipline and work ethic he demonstrates and calls for from us each single day within the pursuit of excellence is one thing I’ll carry ceaselessly.”
Tucker has his quirks. Ask him to call the Buckeyes’ tennis house – the Ty Tucker Tennis Heart, which opened in 2020 – and he’ll all however cowl his ears and shut his mouth.
“I’ve by no means mentioned the title of the tennis heart,” he mentioned, “however my mother says it to anybody who will pay attention.”
He wears sweatpants at matches, whatever the temperature.
“I’m superstitious,” Tucker mentioned. “If we lose three matches in a row, I’ll burn every little thing I’ve and begin over with a brand new outfit. Luckily, I haven’t had to try this many occasions.”
In a cookie-cutter tennis world, Tucker stands out.
“He’s acquired a novel persona that I establish with,” Day mentioned. “In a sport the place lots of people are the identical or there are numerous personalities which might be alike, he doesn’t care about that. He’s himself. He’s real, he’s genuine, and yeah, he’s considered one of a sort.”
His gamers desperately need to win a nationwide title not only for themselves, however for Tucker.
“It means every little thing to need to win it for Ty, for Kro (longtime affiliate head coach Justin Kronauge), for Ohio State, for each single participant that’s come earlier than me, for everyone that’s cheered for the Buckeyes,” Money mentioned.
“We’ve come shut so many occasions. We’ve had this circled for thus lengthy, and everyone is aware of that’s our objective.”
The NCAA singles and doubles tournaments observe the group occasion, so if the Buckeyes win the championship trophy, it’ll keep in Tucker’s resort room for some time. He mentioned he’d ship photos of it to donors, former gamers and their dad and mom.
“I’ll make it possible for everyone will get a bit of it as a result of it’s for this system,” he mentioned.
This text initially appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State tennis: Will Ty Tucker lead the Buckeyes to an NCAA title?
