A former science teacher and longtime tennis coach at St. Xavier High School has died.
The school reserved for boys and run by the Jesuits announced in a social media post Beloved educator Russ King died Saturday, December 28. He was 79 years old.
A graduate of Xavier University, King began working at the high school in 1969, establishing himself as a well-respected biology teacher and leader of its powerhouse tennis program. He stopped teaching in 2014 and retired from coaching in 2019, his family told The Enquirer.
“Russ has dedicated more than 40 years to St. Xavier,” the school said in its message. “His work touched many people and all who knew him will remember his dedication to education.”
Current St. Xavier athletic director Tim Banker praised King, calling him “a great human being who cared about everyone” while saying he had a “great sense of community.” ‘humor “.
“He was a pillar of the St. Xavier community for decades, embodying the school motto of being a ‘man for others,’” Banker said.
Banker also said King was widely known as “Tiger” or “Tiger King” among many students because he himself called every child “Tiger.”
King was a co-founding member of the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Coaches Association in 1989 and served as its president for 15 years. according to a press release. He was inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame in 2023, as well as the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014after accumulating 861 career victories, winning four OTCA state championships and coaching multiple state champions in singles and doubles.
Additionally, the Bombers captured the Great Catholic League title every season he coached, according to a release from St. Xavier Athletics.
Congratulations to the first inductees into the GCTCA Hall of Fame! It was a great evening at the Montgomery Inn celebrating these tennis legends! 🎾🎾
Maxine Hoyle-Yates, Sycamore/Wyoming
Tom Ball, Western Brown
Russ King, St. Xavier/St. Ursula
Tom Bohmer, Sycamore pic.twitter.com/qCoAv1RDZD– Western Brown HS (@wbhsathletics) September 10, 2023
In the early 2000s, King coached Vivek Ramaswamy, St. Xavier graduatethe billionaire entrepreneur who ran for president this year and was chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Newly formed Department of Government Effectiveness with Elon Musk.
King previously told the Enquirer that Ramaswamy’s teammates on the St. Xavier tennis team would play a game called “Stump the Vivek.” They were trying to trip up Ramaswamy with anecdotes.
“They thought they could introduce him to sports, but he was way more knowledgeable about sports than I was, especially the NBA,” King said. “He read the newspaper even when he was young. The kids, I think they were maybe a little jealous to a certain extent, and he can seem…he can seem a little arrogant sometimes.”
Enquirer reporter Scott Wartman contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on the Cincinnati Enquirer: Former St. Xavier High School teacher and tennis coach Russ King has died
