Catching Up with Canes: John Eagleton
HurricaneSports.com recently caught up with former Miami tennis players to talk about their current career as well as their college years in Coral Gables.
Check out our recent conversation with John Eagleton, who was an All-American in 1976 – 1977.
Where do you live now and what are you up to these days?
I live in Sarasota. I work with Inspiration Academy, which is a movie production company. I wrote a book on how to change the world of tennis, a new teaching system for the world. I produced it into movies, and Flamingo Park in South Beach is my headquarters. I love the U and I love Miami. This is my favorite spot, and I am in Miami a lot. I talk to Mario all of the time, and I like to see Miami tennis do well. Mario is a great coach. I love the U and there is nothing better than the U. Alumni weekend is great to be able to come back and to see some guys from the decades and be able to play with them.
What is your fondest memory about playing at Miami?
Winning the match to put us into the second round of the NCAAs is a good memory. Also beating Bill Scanlon when he was No. 1 in the country was fun. We have so many good memories. I probably have 100 good memories from just this Neil Schiff Court, right here. I don’t think I can point to just one thing. I just know that I could beat just about anyone in Miami, and that is how it worked out, so I was blessed.
Do you still keep in touch with any of your teammates and if so, which one(s)?
I keep in touch with John Geraghty, he was my doubles partner my senior year and he was also an All-American here, so we talk regularly. He keeps me up to date with any activity at Miami to attend. I also keep it touch with Lance Dennett. I see some of the guys at football games and some of the guys I have seen at the alumni weekend, I will see more often at tailgates. I try and keep up with Mario and the team. The university gave me a lot, so I try to do anything I can to help.
How has having a degree from Miami helped you?
The U is a big name in sports and at the end of the day it is Miami. Miami is the best city in the world and I think with no doubt Miami is one of the best schools in the world. Miami gets a lot of respect within the business world, and academically it is getting better and better. Miami is a school with a lot of history and tradition, so it’s hard not to get results when you go to school here and get a degree from the University of Miami.
Since leaving UM, have you followed the teams and if so, what has impressed you most?
The rules have changed. Here is the fact: Miami has become a very expensive private school. We don’t have the full scholarships, so Miami’s problem is that the ACC schools are not as nearly as expensive. It is much more difficult to recruit. I think Mario’s job to recruit is 10-to-1 more difficult than other schools. In the old days, if you father went to Miami, you went to Miami. Now with the cost of coming to school at Miami, people might go to a cheaper school. I think Mario is on the way back with the teams, he’s had good teams, and they are always competitive. At the end of the day you are going to have to recruit a No. 1 player, and that guy has to lead the team and build a team around him, but that has gotten so much more difficult. The strong academics at Miami makes it tough to recruit as well.
