Bio

When the sport of tennis is discussed around Wisconsin at the high school, collegiate, amateur or professional levels, it's a good bet that the name Larry Gagnon will come up in conversation.

Gagnon enrolled at UW-Oshkosh in the fall of 1970 and announced his presence as a men's tennis player for the Titans from 1971-73 and in 1975 by compiling what was thought at the time to be unattainable standards.

The Freeport (Ill.) High School graduate posted a 24-8 singles record during his first season at UW-Oshkosh and helped the Titans to WIAC and NAIA District 14 championships. Individually, Gagnon claimed singles and doubles titles at the conference and district levels as well as helping the Titans to a top-10 finish at the NAIA Championship.

Gagnon had another outstanding season in 1972, this time compiling a 22-7 singles record and winning singles championships in both WIAC and NAIA District 14 play. Gagnon also won the NAIA District 14 doubles title at the top competitive flight. UW-Oshkosh, the WIAC and NAIA District 14 team champion, also qualified that season for the NAIA Championship, where it placed eighth in the country. In doubles play, Gagnon and teammate Leigh Ford paired up to advance to the quarterfinal round of the NAIA Championship, where it lost a three-set contest to the eventual second-place finisher.

The 1973 season saw Gagnon post a 24-7 singles record and finish first in first-flight singles and doubles play of both the WIAC and NAIA District 14 championships. UW-Oshkosh, the WIAC and NAIA District 14 team champion, also qualified that season for the NAIA Championship, where it placed fourth in the country. Gagnon advanced to the fifth round of singles play at the NAIA Championship, while teaming with Ford to advance to the quarterfinals in doubles action.

Gagnon was unable to play for the Titans during the 1974 season due to an injury but returned in 1975 to tabulate a 31-2 singles record. His UW-Oshkosh singles career ended with a three-set, fifth-round loss at the NAIA Championship, an event in which the Titans finished 15th. Along the way, Gagnon took home WIAC and NAIA District 14 titles in the first flight of singles play and a WIAC championship in the first flight of doubles action. UW-Oshkosh once again was crowned team champion of the WIAC and the NAIA District 14.

Following a collegiate career that featured a 101-24 singles record, Gagnon became general manager of the Four Seasons & Western Tennis Clubs in Green Bay. In 1978, he was hired as the director of tennis at the Berlin Tennis Schule in Berlin, Germany. 

Gagnon, a 1975 UW-Oshkosh graduate, returned to the Milwaukee area after his three-year stint in Germany, but his stay in the Badger State lasted only a few years as in 1987 he left for Singapore to become the Davis Cup coach for Bahrain and Singapore. Since returning for a second time to the Milwaukee area in 1991, Gagnon has held a variety of tennis occupations, including his current position as director of racquet sports at the Motion Fitness and Racquet Club in New Berlin. He also is the head men's and women's tennis coach at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Competitively, Gagnon continues to excel in tennis. The father of one son, Phil, Gagnon currently holds the top 45 and Over Doubles ranking in Wisconsin. Last month at the United States Tennis Association Indoor Championship in Chicago, Ill., Gagnon finished fifth in the 50 and Over Singles Division.