Bio

The Ferris State University Athletics Department appointed Alex Palladino as the school's head men's and women's tennis coach prior to the 2007-08 campaign.

A United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Certified Tennis Professional, Palladino had worked as a tennis instructor in West Michigan for the previous 20 years since his collegiate playing career ended in 1987. As part of a reorganization plan, he took over both the men's and women's tennis coaching positions in a joint role.

Palladino, who competed at the NCAA Division III level for Kalamazoo College from 1984-87, led the Hornets to back-to-back NCAA-III National Championships his final two years under head coach George Acker. He captured NCAA-III national titles in doubles play while teaming with Jim Burda as both a junior and senior. Twice, he reached the NCAA-III championship match as a singles player at Kalamazoo.

While at Kalamazoo College, Palladino earned four varsity letters and also claimed the school's Most Accomplished Athlete Award as a senior. He competed at both the top singles and doubles flights as a collegian. In addition, Palladino was a four-time All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) selection and named league MVP his final campaign.

Since finishing his collegiate career, Palladino served in a variety of tennis roles. He spent two years as a teaching professional in Chicago and five years at the East Hills club in Grand Rapids. In 1986, Palladino became the Director of Tennis at the Michigan Athletic Club in Grand Rapids where he worked until 2001 when he moved into a similar role with the Champion Health and Fitness Club in Rockford. He's also worked as the tennis director at the Kent Country Club in Grand Rapids.

"I'm extremely excited about the future and the opportunities presented here to build our program at Ferris State University," said Palladino.

As a professional player, Palladino has won the adult men's Midwest Indoor Championship seven times, traveled on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Satellite Circuit and earned victories over players ranked as high as #145 in the world. He has twice been honored as the United States Professional Tennis Association's (USPTA) Midwest Player of the Year and been recognized as the West Michigan Adult Player of the Year several times.

Palladino began playing competitive tennis at the age of 11 in Kalamazoo and entered his first tournament one year later. He qualified for the Midwest sectionals as a 15-year old and advanced to the USTA Junior Nationals when he was only 16 years old. He was twice ranked in the Midwest section's top five players and finished among the top 24 players nationally prior to his collegiate career.

A 1984 graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School, Palladino was an all-state player and team Most Valuable Player Award recipient during his prep playing career. The three-year letterwinner placed among the top eight finishers at the state meet his junior campaign for the Maroon Giants. He graduated from high school a semester early to enroll and play that spring at Kalamazoo where he advanced to the NCAA-III singles national championship match as a 17-year old freshman.

Palladino continues to play men's "open" events and has recent wins over top graduating players from both Michigan State and Western Michigan University.

Besides playing tennis, Palladino's hobbies also include playing the guitar and creating stained glass windows. He graduated from Kalamazoo with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and art in 1987.

Palladino is married for the former Mona Bidwell. He has a son, Jordan, and two daughters, Bailey and Leah.