COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — John Daly, who coached the Ohio State University’s men’s tennis team for 28 years, died Wednesday. He was 78.
Daly coached Ohio State from 1972 to 1999, racking up 431 match wins as the Buckeyes head coach and 449 wins in his career, including while coaching one season at Northern Illinois before he moved to Columbus.
Daly was one of the longest-tenured coaches in Ohio State history and coached the first three All-Americans from the school – Francisco Gonzalez in 1975 and 1976, Ernie Fernandez in 1981 and Ty Tucker in 1990 and 1991. Tucker is the current men’s tennis head coach, taking over for Daly.
His teams racked up top-four finishes in the Big Ten 13 times, including a conference title in 1991. Daly’s tenure also produced 31 All-Big Ten selections and six Big Ten singles and doubles champions. Three All-Americans and one NCAA singles semifinalist, along with 30 academic All-Big Ten honorees played for Daly at Ohio State.
After his retirement, he worked for 10 years at the McConnell Heart Health Center where he was instrumental in launching the executive wellness program.
A longtime volunteer, Daly also:
- Donated refinished wine boxes for local charities, raising thousands of dollars
- Hosted wheelchair tennis tournaments, taught wheelchair tennis players and traveled as the wheelchair tennis coach to the Junior Olympics in Paris, France.
- Started the Ohio State University’s Varsity Arts Exhibition
- Chaired several fundraising events like The Tennis Auction Ball, benefiting the Buckeye Ranch.
Daly was married to his wife Sandra for 56 years. The couple has two daughters, a son, and seven grandchildren. All three of his children and son-in-law are Ohio State alumni. He has two grandchildren who are currently attending Ohio State as well.
