One of the most decorated coaches in Cleveland State history, Brian Etzkin will begin his 19th year at the helm of the men’s tennis team, looking to continue the program’s success during the 2020-21 season. 

Throughout his tenure at Cleveland State, Etzkin has guided the Vikings to seven Horizon League Tournament championships, including two straight #HLMTEN crowns during the 2018 and 2019 spring campaigns. Entering the 2020-21 campaign, Etzkin owns 260 career victories with the Vikings - the all-time winningest coach in program history.

During his 18-year stint at Cleveland State, Etzkin has mentored 19 Horizon League honorees and five major award winners - including two-time reigning Player of the Year in Nico Mostardi and 2018 Freshman of the Year in Matthew Terry. He has also earned four Horizon League Coach of the Year honors (2007, 2009, 2010, 2019), 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 13 seasons the Vikings have won seven Horizon League Tournament titles (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019) and have made seven NCAA Tournament appearances. 

Cleveland State is just as impressive off the court, as 23 Vikings have been named ITA Scholar-Athletes since the 2002-03 season, and the team has received ITA All-Academic honors four times (2007, 2009, 2018, & 2019). 

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.

Etzkin and his wife, Holly, have one son, Aaron (9 years), and reside in Moreland Hills.