Gene Orlando

Orlando has spent the last three seasons as Richards' assistant coach. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Orlando was the head coach at Michigan State for 31 seasons before retiring after the 2022 campaign. The winningest men's tennis coach in MSU history, with 361 victories, he was also the longest-tenured men's tennis coach in the Big Ten Conference. 

A 1987 graduate of Ball State, Orlando lettered in tennis from 1983 to 1987 and helped the Cardinals claim four straight Mid-American Conference championships and post a four-year MAC league mark of 29-0.

Orlando won the 1987 MAC No. 3 singles title after winning the league's No. 2 doubles and No. 4 singles crowns in 1986. He helped Ball State earn an 83-14 record over his career and served as a graduate assistant coach in 1987-88. As a graduate assistant, he helped the Cardinals earn another MAC crown.

Coach Orlando is a tremendous coach and person as well as a leader and motivator. He brings a world of experience after coaching at the Power-4 level for many years.