One of the most decorated coaches in Cleveland State history, Brian Etzkin will begin his 24th year at the helm of the men’s tennis team, looking to continue the program’s success during the 2025-26 season.
Two years ago, Etzkin guided the Vikings to a program-record 21 wins, including the ninth Horizon League Tournament title, which is tied for the most championships by a single school in league history.
Throughout his tenure at Cleveland State, Etzkin has guided the Vikings to nine Horizon League Tournament championships, including four straight titles between 2008 and 2011. Etzkin owns 330+ career victories with the Vikings - the all-time winningest coach in program history.
During his 23-year stint at Cleveland State, Etzkin has mentored 25 Horizon League honorees and seven major award winners - including reigning Player of the Year Lincoln Battle. He has also earned a league-best six Horizon League Coach of the Year honors (2007, 2009, 2010, 2019, 2021, 2024), while also being named the 2009 ITA Midwest Regional Men’s Coach of the Year.
Under Etzkin’s guidance, the Vikings have become one of the top teams in the state of Ohio, and a Horizon League Championship contender year-in and year-out. Over the last 23 seasons the Vikings have posted 20 winning campaigns – including three 20-win seasons – and have made nine NCAA Tournament appearances.
Cleveland State is just as impressive off the court, as 30 Vikings have been named ITA Scholar-Athletes since the 2002-03 season, and the team has received ITA All-Academic honors eight times (2007, 2009, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2021).
Etzkin has also encouraged his players to become community leaders. Under Etzkin, four members of the men’s tennis team have been named officers for the Cleveland State Student-Athlete Advisory Council; Steven Wipprecht (2008-09) and Jay Tee (2005-06) each served as the SAAC President during their careers, while Brad Groleski (2006-07) and Nolan Marks (2014-15) served as the Vice Presidents.
Etzkin was born in Cleveland and raised in Wooster, but returned to Northeast Ohio after working as an assistant men’s tennis coach at Michigan State.
He also worked as the assistant tennis professional at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility in addition to being the Tennis Director and Head Pro at Walnut Hills Country Club. Prior to working with Michigan State, Etzkin spent two years as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams at Western Illinois University from 1998-2000.
Etzkin also coached the 2002 Midwest Junior Davis Cup team to the national championship in Columbia, S.C., and is an active United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Certified Teaching Pro.
Etzkin played college tennis for four years at Southern-Illinois University-Carbondale, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology. As a senior in 1998, he received GTE Academic All-American honors and was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference All-Academic selection.
He later returned to school, earning a master’s degree in sport management from Western Illinois in 2000, while serving as a graduate assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s teams.
