Former UNLV tennis coach Easley dies at 57

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005 | 9:38 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

Larry Easley, who coached the UNLV men's tennis team to three conference titles and produced two individual NCAA champions, died Monday in Las Vegas at the age of 57 following a long illness.

"We are all saddened to hear about the passing of Coach Easley," UNLV senior associate athletics director Jerry Koloskie said. "During his time here he helped build Rebel tennis into a nationally recognized program. He will be missed and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

A successful coach, educator and businessman, Easley was born in Bakersfield, Calif. He graduated from Nordhoff High School in Ojai, Calif., before earning his bachelor's degree in history from California Poly State University-San Luis Obispo in 1970, where he also lettered in tennis. He then served in the U.S. Army until 1972.

Easley's college coaching career began with a job as assistant men's tennis coach as Cal Poly before he took over as the women's head coach at Moorpark (Calif.) Junior College in 1974. He was the head pro at the Ojai Valley Racquet Club from 1975-79, then moved to the same position at the Jack Kramer Club in Palos Verdes, Calif., where until 1984 he tutored numerous top junior players, including one that would go on to be one the world's best players -- Pete Sampras.

Easley moved back to the college level for the 1984-85 season when he became head men's coach at California State University-Long Beach, where he produced four All-Americans during his three seasons and was named conference coach of the year in 1986.

After a return to the business world, including working as finance chairman for the Atlanta Sports Council, which was involved in the city's successful bid to host the 1996 Summer Olympics, he was hired by UNLV in 1991.

Easley headed the Rebel men's tennis team for 12 seasons -- longer than anyone in history -- and was named conference coach of the year three more times from 1994-96. He was also twice named Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2001. His all-time record of 141-120 included leading UNLV to three Big West Conference championships. Easley produced four more All-Americans in Las Vegas, including two individual national champions when Luke Smith won the NCAA singles championship and then teamed with Tim Blenkiron to capture the NCAA doubles title in 1997.

Easley received his master's degree from UNLV in 1993 and then earned his doctorate from the school in 1998 where he later taught both undergraduate and graduate courses on campus. A longtime member of the United States Tennis Association, he spent time working with the Nevada Tennis Association and its youth foundation. He also served in 1999 as chairman of the NCAA Men's and Women's Tennis Committee and was a member of advisory committees for such national tennis equipment manufacturers as Prince and Wilson.

Easley is survived by his wife, Diana, and their two daughters, Tina and Lisa; his mother, Martha Easley of Ojai, and a sister, Donna Katzen of Camarillo, Calif.