Tulsa Mourns the Loss of Former Men’s Tennis Coach Jim Poling
7/16/2024 3:36:00 PM | Men's Tennis
TULSA, Okla. — Jim Poling, former University of Tulsa men's tennis coach, died on June 13, at the age of 76. Poling coached the Golden Hurricane men from 1985-88.
Poling was considered a legend in collegiate tennis with over 40 years of coaching experience following a three-year playing career at Clemson. He also honorably served a two-year deployment to Vietnam for the United States Army and earned a Bronze Star for his service.
Many student-athletes from around the country had the privilege to play for Poling throughout his career, including those at Mississippi State (1979- 80), South Alabama (1980-83), Tulsa (1985-88), Rollins (1993-2002) and Army (2002-2022). He cultivated 516 career victories, with 29 of them coming as the leader of the Hurricane.
While at TU, Poling earned Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1987. He recruited players worldwide to play for The University of Tulsa, including current TU women's tennis Head Coach Dean Orford (1987-91).
Poling went on to coach Rollins College out of Winter Park, Fla., where he led the Tars to the 2001 Division II National Championship title and earned the National Coach of the Year award while earning Sunshine State Conference and South Region Coach of the Year honors twice.
Following his stop at Rollins, Poling would spend the final 20 years of his career coaching the Army Black Knights, where he would amass 289 wins, win six Patriot League titles, coach six conference players of the year, tutor four conference rookies of the year and earn a Mike Krzyzewski Award for Excellence in Teaching Character Through Sport in 2020.
Poling was considered a legend in collegiate tennis with over 40 years of coaching experience following a three-year playing career at Clemson. He also honorably served a two-year deployment to Vietnam for the United States Army and earned a Bronze Star for his service.
Many student-athletes from around the country had the privilege to play for Poling throughout his career, including those at Mississippi State (1979- 80), South Alabama (1980-83), Tulsa (1985-88), Rollins (1993-2002) and Army (2002-2022). He cultivated 516 career victories, with 29 of them coming as the leader of the Hurricane.
While at TU, Poling earned Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1987. He recruited players worldwide to play for The University of Tulsa, including current TU women's tennis Head Coach Dean Orford (1987-91).
Poling went on to coach Rollins College out of Winter Park, Fla., where he led the Tars to the 2001 Division II National Championship title and earned the National Coach of the Year award while earning Sunshine State Conference and South Region Coach of the Year honors twice.
Following his stop at Rollins, Poling would spend the final 20 years of his career coaching the Army Black Knights, where he would amass 289 wins, win six Patriot League titles, coach six conference players of the year, tutor four conference rookies of the year and earn a Mike Krzyzewski Award for Excellence in Teaching Character Through Sport in 2020.
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