Michigan Athletics Mourns Passing of Former Men's Tennis Coach Brian Eisner
9/15/2025 4:42:00 PM | Men's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan Athletics regrets to share the passing of legendary former men's tennis coach Brian Eisner, who led the University of Michigan program for over three decades and left an indelible legacy on the sport and on generations of student-athletes.
Eisner served as head coach of the Wolverines from 1969 to 1999, guiding the program to 18 Big Ten Championships and 18 NCAA Tournament appearances. He established Michigan as a perennial powerhouse with 16 consecutive conference championships from 1970-1985 and six top-10 finishes in the NCAA Tournament.
"We are saddened by the passing of former Michigan men's tennis coach Brian Eisner," Warde Manuel, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics, said. "Over the course of his distinguished career in Ann Arbor, Coach Eisner guided the Wolverines to 18 Big Ten championships and established Michigan as one of the premier programs in collegiate tennis. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, former players, and the entire Michigan tennis community."
Under his leadership, the Wolverines amassed 449 dual match victories while mentoring 16 All-Americans, six Big Ten Athletes of the Year and 69 All-Big Ten selections. Additionally, he coached Mike Leach to the NCAA singles title in 1982 and Dan Goldberg to national runner-up in 1987.
A key figure in the development of the Varsity Tennis Center, Eisner is an inductee of the ITA Collegiate Hall of Fame and the Michigan Athletics Hall of Honor.
He remains one of the winningest coaches in both Michigan and Big Ten tennis history.
