Frank Polito

Frank Polito will begin his fourth year as the Cleveland State women’s head tennis coach during the 2019-20 season, and his sixth year overall with the Viking tennis program. Polito is in his second stint with the Vikings, as he was also an assistant coach from September 2012 through February 2014.

Women’s Tennis
Last season, Polito was instrumental in guiding the Vikings to the 2016 Horizon League Regular Season title, as Cleveland State went 8-1 in league play en route to its second regular season crown in program history. Polito mentored newcomer Isabella Spindler throughout the season, who was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the All-League First Team.

During Polito’s first three seasons with the Vikings, he helped guide Cleveland State to three semifinal appearances and one championship appearance at the Horizon League Tournament, while mentoring seven All-League honorees.

Men’s Tennis
Over the last two years, Polito has helped mentor three Vikings to All-League honors, while Cleveland State has earned an appearance in the Horizon League semifinals during both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

During Polito’s first stint at Cleveland State, the Vikings captured their fifth Horizon League title during the 2013 season and had three players earn All-League honors.

Personal
During Polito’s six-month hiatus from Cleveland State (February 2014-July 2014), he served as the head boys and girls coach at Hawken School in Gates Mills, Ohio.

Polito joined the Cleveland State coaching staff during the 2012-13 season after a six-year stint as an assistant coach with the women’s tennis team at Georgia. During his tenure, the Bulldogs posted an overall record of 139-29, won two regular season SEC championships, claimed three SEC tournament titles and advanced past the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament three times. Georgia also finished the year ranked in the ITA top-10 five out of his six years. For his efforts with the Bulldogs, Polito was named the 2008 Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association South Region Assistant Coach of the Year, and promoted to associate head coach in September of 2010.

Prior to his time in Athens, Polito spent two years as an assistant coach at Kansas (2004-06) and two years in the same position at Ohio State (2001-03). With the Jayhawks, Polito’s coaching and recruiting efforts helped make dramatic improvements on and off the court, culminating with ITA All-Academic Team honors and an ITA No. 59 ranking following the 2006 season. At Ohio State, Polito led the Buckeyes to a combined record of 31-19 and consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2002, he was honored as the ITA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year.

Polito also served as the head coach at Louisiana-Monroe (1999-2001), head coach at Akron (1997-99), assistant coach and interim head coach at Kansas (1996-97), head coach at Sienna Heights (1995) and head coach at Eastern Michigan (1990-95).

Polito is a 1990 graduate of Eastern Michigan, where he was a four-year letterwinner for the Eagles, and team captain during his senior year. The Lorain, Ohio native earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications and film from EMU.