OCC names Ketchum to coach men’s tennis team

Chris Ketchum, a Newport Harbor High product who has coached tennis the last nine years at the Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club, has been named men’s tennis coach at Orange Coast College.

Ketchum, the Pirates’ fourth coach in four years, replaced Jeff Thomsen, a former Newport Harbor player and coach who left after one season to become an assistant coach for the men’s program at the University of Miami.

Ketchum, who got the job in mid-August, previously coached two seasons as a men’s and women’s assistant at Cypress College. He coached last year as an assistant for both programs at Irvine Valley College.

Ketchum said he plans to end the turnover the OCC men’s job has experienced in recent years.

“I intend to bring stability to the program,” the 31-year-old Costa Mesa resident said. “The program has been good in recent years, but I want it to be great and contend for Orange Empire Conference and state championships. I want to give the community a good, solid team they can watch and support. I think that would be good for tennis in this area.”

Ketchum said since he was hired so late, he has not recruited for the upcoming season, scheduled to open Jan. 14.

“I have worked with [OCC women’s coach] Janice Maran in the offseason training class and I’ve talked with Thomsen a lot about guys who might be returning from last year’s team,” Ketchum said.

Ketchum played soccer and tennis at Newport Harbor, from which he graduated in 1994.

— Barry Faulkner