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45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, January 24, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 7, 2004 Change of scenery for teaching pro Inn By KEVIN GOFF Mail Tribune Success has been a constant for Frank Inn during his 21 years as the tennis pro at the Southern Oregon Tennis Club. But recently, a change of heart has led to a change in venue for the 51-year-old Medford resident. Inn packed up two decades worth of teaching success at the SOTC to become the director of tennis at the Rogue Valley Swim and Tennis Club. "It had nothing to do with the people (at SOTC)," he says. "Things changed. The move was for personal reasons." Inn’s departure opens the door for Andris Olins and Gail Patton. Both were assistants to Inn and will take over as teaching pro co-directors at the SOTC. Advertisement "I was surprised like everyone else," says Olins of Inn’s departure. "It was a great opportunity for him. I wish him luck." Inn, who’s been voted coach of the year by the United States Tennis Association five times, has developed a long list of outstanding local adult and junior players — including former ATP competitor Jonathan Stark. "We’re ecstatic," says RVSTC general manager Brian Morse. "I found our philosophy and goals for success were the same. "To get somebody of his experience in tennis is incredible." The first day of Inn’s new beginning was June 1, but the decision to leave familiar surroundings had been on his mind for a while. Inn and his wife, Cheryl, even contemplated leaving the area when their youngest of two sons, Brady, left for his freshman year at Southern Oregon University. "It’s common knowledge that we’re sort of empty nesters now," says Inn, whose oldest son Deryk played tennis at St. Mary’s College. "We talked about leaving the area and starting over. Maybe branch out and do our thing elsewhere." But Morse unwittingly swooped in and landed himself the Rogue Valley’s most premier teaching name in tennis. "The (teaching pro) position was open at the end of March," says Morse. "I’d talked to Frank to see if he knew of anybody that would be a good fit, and it went from there. He expressed interest right away. "We covered many, many hours talking about it. I wanted to make sure it was a good fit for him." The timing couldn’t have been any better for the Inns, too. Cheryl Inn received her degree in business from SOU in March and was offered a full-time position at the marketing firm she was interning for. With his wife’s new career and the growing workload at SOTC, Frank Inn jumped at the new opportunity. "I’d been an independent contractor at SOTC, and didn’t want to do that anymore," he says. "I didn’t want to do billing or string rackets anymore. I wanted to do my first love, and that’s teaching tennis." Inn’s move from employer to employee suits him just fine. "I am the director (at RVSTC)," he says. "They are entrusting me to call the shots. "It’s a larger facility with a ready-made staff. Everything is on a larger scale." Morse, who’s father Conrad opened the RVSTC in 1992, thinks Inn’s hiring will open up new doors for the club. "This is definitely the most exciting thing that has ever happened to the club," he says. "(The hiring) just creates an atmosphere where everybody here wants to play more. We think it’s going to be a great and exciting situation." Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers