When Don Lang began playing tennis in 1959, he did not feel that tennis was popular sport. Some of his friends teased him that he was not in a manly sport. He hid the fact that he were playing tennis. He did not even know that USTA junior tennis tournaments even existed and only played interclub matches. As a kid, Lang’s big tennis thrill was going to Orange Lawn Tennis Club in New Jersey. On the grass courts was where he saw Aurthur Ashe, Gene Scott, and Charlie Passarell.
Lang got back to tennis where he enrolled at The University of Miami. The team had Eddie Dibbs (world career high-five men’s singles), Pat Kramer (world career high number 95), Raz Reid (round of 32 at 1972 US Open), Luis Garcia (Mexico Davis Cupper, reached round of 32 at 1999-67 US Open. Lang was not the varsity. He played tennis for his dorm team. He groomed the varsity clay courts and spent highly coveted time talking to Dale Lewis (University of Miami tennis coach / International Tennis Association Collegiate Tennis Hall of Famer).
Nothing made Don Lang more ecstatic than being in the tennis industry. He took his father’s advice about being enthusiastic, seizing his energy for a highly successful 20 years at ProKennex and 16 years as Florida Rep for Fila. In total he has spent a half century in business. Lang also was part of the IMG staff with Nick Bollettieri. He was General Manager of the Billy Jean King – World Team Tennis for the SARASOTA TWIST. Keynote players: Jimmy Arias and Nicole Arendt. Lang also provided tennis events with his World Class Tennis Promotions, LLC. Lang is impressive within the tennis industry. He knows the product, apparel, and strings. He has saved many tennis elbows by suggesting lower tension and softer strings.
The Summit, New Jersey kid made sure that his kids were going to experience a strong start to the game. When asked who his kids’ models were, he answered Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg, and Stefan Edberg. Don Lang had Jimmy Connors as his role model.
Charlie Oliver, the coach of Lisa Raymond, former WTA number one ranked doubles and number 15 singles, was influential. Oliver told the leaders at the Philadelphia Tennis Patrons Gold Cup that Micheal Lang at age 5 ? -years-old deserved to be in the program and he was correct. Michael went on to be the number one player in the United States 16 and under. He was a member of Georgia NCAA Championship team and Big East Player of the Year while at the University of Miami in 2001. He also had taste of the pro-tour. Don’s two other sons Ryan and Tucker had impressive college tennis performances. Tucker at NAIA Top 5 Flager College. Ryan tennis and football at Jacksonville University, wow!
The Lang family and the Koz family have been friends since the 1980s. The Langs came to Sea Colony, a beach and tennis resort in Bethany Beach, DE. I was the Director of Tennis there. Don and I first played and the kids met. We then spent 11 years together at Laurel Oak C.C. in Sarasota where the kids became the best of friends playing junior tennis circuit. We are seeing much more of Lang as he has joined The Florida Tennis Magazine as a marketing agent. Don shared with us that Jim Martz did a terrific article about Lang family journey of tennis. Lang also disclosed his admiration for Matt Pressman for offering both Florida Tennis magazine and digital.
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Written by: Dave “Koz” Kozlowski. Kozlowski is one of the USPTA (now RSPA) first 17 Master Professionals in the world. His television show was previously broadcast on The Tennis Channel and he was named the USTA Broadcaster of the Year. Top photo courtesy of Dave Kozlowski
