Feature Story: Coach Mario Rincon
March 21, 2012
by Mikayla Vielot
On a small country farm just outside of Colombia’s beautiful capital city, Bogotá, lived a rather large family of seven. Mario and Ernestina Rincon raised their five children on this farm on the outskirts of a small town called Duitama. Here Rincon built his family a tennis court. This is where the legacy of his namesake and middle child began his tennis career.
The elder Rincon always loved tennis so when his children were old enough he began practicing with them. Growing up, the father was the strict parent in the house. The mother was soothing and more relaxed than her husband especially when it came to tennis. The younger Mario, like most South American boys, enjoyed playing soccer but his father had other plans. He saw potential in his son’s game and encouraged him to pursue it. The son welcomed the challenge.
“It was a lot of fun. I have a big family and it was always fun being together and growing up playing tennis. Tennis was a huge part of our family,” said Mario Rincon, the University of Miami men’s tennis coach. “I think being part of a big family allows you to always have someone to play with and compete against. It’s a lot of fun.”
At 14 years old Rincon began travelling throughout South America playing in tournaments. After high school he attended North Greenville University, a junior college in South Carolina, before he was recruited by the University of Kentucky. Kentucky was a state school and home to about 35,000 students. While collegiate tennis gave him the challenge he was looking for, the experience was unlike anything else. Used to living in a small town, he found the size to be overwhelming.
“I was really shy when I was in college. I didn’t make a lot of friends. The friends that I had were friends from the tennis team and I had a good relationship with them and the coaches,” Rincon said.
Basketball became one of Rincon’s secret pastimes. Although he loved the game he regrets playing the sport.
“I wish I hadn’t played because I spent so many hours playing basketball there for fun that my knees took an unnecessary beating. I was never any good in basketball but it was a lot of fun,” he said.
After graduating from Kentucky in 1988 with a bachelor of science in agricultural communications, Rincon went on to play professional tennis. He spent nine years with the Association of Tennis Professionals and five more on the Japanese pro tour. Rincon made appearances at each of the four Grand Slam venues: the U.S. Open, French Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open. During the Japanese pro tour, at one point he was ranked No. 2 in singles.
“It was incredible. I loved every single day I was out there. Battling and making money playing tennis, that was a dream come true. Although I didn’t make any headlines, I got to play the Grand Slams and the Sony Ericsson here. It was great. I played for many years and I tried to play for as long as I could. I’m really happy I had that opportunity,” he said.
When Rincon’s ranking began to decline, he weighed his options and decided it was time to retire. Off the court distractions may have played a role in the end of his career but family will always be his top priority.
“My mother was battling cancer. She went through a bunch of chemotherapy treatments and her body was really weakened. She had Osteoporosis. It was rough to see because with that illness, a person’s bones just disintegrate and break one-by-one,” he said. “My mom was very brave and she always wanted to overcome the illness, but in the end it was just too much. We were always around her and she was a loving mom. She was great.”
Around the same time, Rincon met his wife, Laura, who is from Bogotá as well. The pair met in Colombia and after they were set up on a blind date by Rincon’s cousin. After dating for two years the pair tied the knot and now have three daughters, Laura Sofia, Daniela and Gabriela.
Living in Kendall with his family, Rincon is now in his eighth season as the head coach of the University of Miami men’s tennis team. Those closest to him praise his coaching style and genuine care for each of his players.
“He gets to know all of the players. He really understands each one of them. He finds out what makes them tick and what motivates them,” assistant coach Mark Dickson said. “He communicates so well with his players.”
Rincon understands that his players come from all walks of life and have learned tennis differently. He believes as the head coach it is his responsibility to be able to adapt to their ways of learning.
“I think a very important part of coaching is listening because that’s how you learn their minds and how they listen on the tennis courts and what decisions they’re going to make,” Rincon said.
Upon the arrival of his players, Rincon felt it was his job, along with Dickson, to get to know each player and determine how he can help them become better.
Victor Mauz, a junior from France, did not visit the university prior to coming to UM as a transfer student, but built a relationship with Rincon beforehand through e-mails and phone calls. When his plane landed thousands of miles away from home, as well as everything and everyone he had ever known, Rincon was waiting at the airport for his arrival.
“We can talk about a lot of things and exchange about not only tennis. He’s younger so that helps but it is also in his personality to be engaging and closer to his players,” Mauz said.
As a child Rincon’s father was hard on him when he played tennis but the head coach does not give his players the same treatment. Always looking for the positive in a situation, he is constantly trying to motivate the team and bring them closer together.
“His coaching style is so quiet and passionate and I think everything about it is wonderful. He brings out the best in me and the best in everyone he’s around,” Dickson said.
While he gets to do the one thing he loves every single day, the job can be demanding. He spends a considerable amount of time away from his family due to recruiting and traveling for matches throughout the season. His girls do not know life any other way, but he tries to make up for lost time when he is home.
“If I could describe all of my girls in one word it would be active. They’re always up to something, always saying things, always busy,” Rincon said. “They’re great. I love when we play matches here and they’re around the university and cheering for the players.”
Rincon’s daughters are following in his footsteps and learning how to play tennis as well. They’re active in physical education classes and enjoying running at school.
“I don’t have a lot of time to teach them on a full-time basis but they enjoy lessons every once in a while,” he said. “I try not to push them too hard.”
Rincon and his siblings remained close even after their lives took different paths. His oldest brother Juan is now a resident of Buenos Aires, Argentina, while José, who is one year Rincon’s senior currently lives in Port St. Lucie, about two hours from Miami. Maria, a year younger, remained in Bogotá, and Eduardo, the youngest, works at the University of Arkansas as an assistant tennis coach. While the siblings may be spread out, they find time to see one another and keep in contact.
The head coach does his best to make those around him feel comfortable. He is more engaging than any coach one would ever meet. He spends extra time giving players the one-on-one attention they sometimes need. He eats a healthy Cuban meal at Mango Manny’s in the campus food court with his assistant coaches. He takes his wife dancing at their favorite salsa and merengue spots when he can. When his father travels to the United States to participate in a marathon or visit his grandchildren, he is there.
Rincon’s love extends beyond the tennis court. It is radiant and everyone around him can feel it.
