Terry Darling
Head Coach: 36th Season
Email: terry.darling@arbor.edu
Phone: 517 750-6350
Terry Darling has been the men’s tennis head coach since 1980. A graduate of Spring Arbor University in 1978, Darling was also a member of the men’s tennis team for four years while an undergraduate.
Darling has won many coaching awards over the years, including the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Coach of the Year in 1997 and 1999, and Mid-Central Conference (MCC) Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2011. He also received NAIA Region VIII Coach of the Year honors in 2007 and ITA East Region Coach of the Year in 2012. He has led his teams to numerous national tournaments, twice placing third in the NCCAA national event and finishing as the runner-up in 2012. Just so he won’t forget what it is like to be a player, Darling continues to play in tournament competition.
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Darling has a doctorate in counseling psychology and has been chair of the psychology department at Spring Arbor University for over 15 years. Because of his training in psychology, he focuses on helping SAU players develop their mental game along with their physical skills.
Darling and his wife, Mary, have two sons, David and Michael, both graduates of SAU. David earned his degree in 2013 while Michael graduated in 2015.
Todd Dobben
Assistant Coach: 24th Season
Email: todd@dobbenagency.com
Phone: 517 750-6350
Todd Dobben has been the men’s tennis assistant coach since 1994. Prior to that, he was the head boy’s coach at Northwest High School.
Dobben played No. 1 singles for four years at Ashland University. Since that time he has won various tournaments, including a USTA mixed doubles national championship in 1992. He is also a former instructor at the Jackson Athletic Club. Most recently, Dobben has begun hosting the best grass court tournament in the midwest every summer at his home in Jackson, Michigan.
Dobben currently works at the Dobben Agency in Jackson, Michigan. He and his wife, Meghan, have two sons, Sam and Charlie.