Coach Wermer mentors UT’s players on and off the court

There are two types of people in this world, those that help themselves and those who go the extra mile to help others.

University of Toledo men’s tennis coach Al Wermer fits in the second category. But don’t mistake generosity for a lack of competitive spirit.

Wermer wants the most out of all his players.

“He gets competitive because he has a knack for identifying potential in each player,” said, senior men’s tennis player, Nicky Wong. “He sees all the positive possibilities that are there.”

Wermer, or ‘Coach Al,’ as his players call him, is no newbie to tennis. But according to him, he wasn’t exactly quick to the game.

“I started when I was 12,” Wermer said. “(That) is older than most of the guys on my team started.

“I played a lot of sports growing up, but I loved tennis.”

Wermer spent a year on the pro circuit before turning his mind towards coaching, a career path that had always interested him.

“I wanted to be active and impact the kids,” he said.

That he has done. Now in 19th year coaching the Rockets, Wermer has turned Toledo into a constantly successful program and his 234 wins as a coach are the most in school history.

He also has improved his players into consistent competitors in the classroom. His teams regularly hover around the 3.2 GPA mark, with 19 different players on Wermer’s teams earning Academic All-Mid-American Conference honors.

Wermer himself has been a student at Toledo. In 2004, he earned his Master of Arts in recreation and leisure studies.

Above all, his success as a coach has meant the world to him, even more than his time as a pro.

“Coaching has been more of a highlight for me,” Wermer said. “I like the impact and influence you can have with the guys and it lasting or staying with them.

“My best moment in general are when you have to make a tough decision or a change in guys’ game that you’re thanked for later or they realize, in retrospect, that it was the best thing to happen.”

Wermer graduated from Capital University with a degree in physical education. Since becoming a coach in 1992, he has earned a reputation as a respected instructor on the national level.

The former USPTA Midwest College Coach of the Year has created two instructional tennis videos and has served multiple terms as Division I Midwest Men’s Regional Chairman of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. He has also been on the ITA National Division I Operating Committee.

Wermer is a constant presence at national and regional tennis coaches’ conventions as a speaker and he has also earned the ITA Midwest Community Service Award.

But nothing makes him prouder than when his players get the message he is trying to teach.

“What I would want them to take away from playing on our team here in Toledo is teamwork, commitment, loyalty, focus, discipline, time management, fun and camaraderie,” Wermer said. “Those are some of the main benefits.”

Everyone isn’t going to be a pro, but a number of Wermer’s graduates have played professionally, represented their country in the Davis Cup or have earned an ATP ranking.

Others have also gone on to coach tennis like their old mentor. All have been affected by Wermer’s presence in their lives.

“(He has improved) my attitude towards things win or lose, (taught me) to keep a positive attitude,” Wong said. “There is always something positive to take from a match. Just because I lost doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to take away.”

“He’s different from other coaches with his positivity. No matter the situation, he finds something the team can benefit from.”