Binghamton University Athletics

More on Michael Lane '89

On October 5, 2018, Michael Lane '89 and his wife, Lisa Lane '89, '91 presented a significant gift to the Binghamton University Men's Tennis Program. Michael shared some background on his childhood, his time at Binghamton and his affinity for tennis and the University.



My Background  
"A little background about me... growing up I was not a privileged kid.  My father was a single dad and high school teacher (from my age 11) with four kids at home. I was the third of the fourth (two older brothers and a younger sister). We had to work for everything we had. Tennis was my escape and would schedule hits with anyone I could find, and would often just hang around the high school tennis courts hoping to warm someone up before there partner would arrive. My girlfriend at the time, for all four years of HS who has since passed away, didn’t play tennis but she would go to the courts with me and throw balls around so I could work on shots. I didn’t have a coach, and often didn’t have money to pay for strings...so I learned early in life how to barter.  I would literally trade baseball cards for stringing at the local tennis shop in Corning. The Yarricks owned the shop and were sympathetic to my situation and did what they could to help.

I loved the game, but I wasn’t like many kids I was competing against that had the luxury of coaching, tennis camps, actual tennis clothing, etc... I had to grind for everything I had. But I look back and I wouldn’t change a thing. I had such great influences in my early life, people like Jim and Bonnie Hudson and their daughter Lis (Bonnie and Lis are now both deceased), the Yarricks who would let me hang out at their store just so I could be around tennis, and my father was the high school tennis coach so I had the privilege of making him proud as a reasonable high school player, going 78-3 in dual matches.  


Today, things are financially different. What I learned as a youth trying to make enough money teaching lessons, working as a grocery store clerk and cart boy outdoors in Corning in the winter months, or bartering whatever I had for the ability to play tennis taught me a work ethic that carries through to today."  

Why the Gift?  
"When I was a student athlete at Binghamton it was my first time away from home without supervision. It was exciting, confusing, and lonely time. But the one constant was tennis. It was hard going from being the best player in your little area to being far from the best player on the team, but having something constant in my life was grounding for me. Anyone that knows me from back then knows I wasn’t the most focused of tennis players during college, but at least I had something familiar to lean on when needed.  And the guys I played with on the teams over the years were amazing. Great guys, fun guys, and people I look forward to seeing at reunions. I want that for others.

In today’s college ranks, there are sports that are economic powerhouses (Football...).  Binghamton doesn’t have a football team, so there isn’t a subsidy program in place where the millions from Football can keep other important sports alive. So it comes down to alumni stepping up to help offset the cost of the program and to make sure the leadership of the University remember how important these programs are for students. Fortunately, we have an amazing President in Harvey Stenger, so today I don’t worry, but long term, we need to prepare the program to be sustainable. It is our responsibility as alumni to give back to those programs that helped us become who we are as adults.

My gift pales in size to many others at Binghamton, but it isn’t about that, it is about individually digging deep, finding a way to make a meaningful difference, be that $100 a year, or multi-millions.  If we as alumni do not step up and help the programs we love, they may not exist a decade from now, and that would be tragic for kids like me that needed a foundation in a new world of uncertainty.  My gift is a small part that will hopefully be matched by others so we keep Binghamton tennis alive and well for the future."

What does it mean for my family?
"My life would not be the same if I had not attended Binghamton University. Not just because of the education I received, but because of the people outside the classroom that I learned from. And, I met my wife and mother of my three kids while a junior. So I am incredibly grateful for the education, competitive atmosphere, and the introduction to my partner for 31 years.  


Any gift of any size requires sacrifice. Instead of spending the money on a trip, a new car, a nicer home, or possibly even deferring retirement, when one gives back you give something up in order to improve the lives of others. My wife Lisa, who is also a graduate of Binghamton, didn’t hesitate to support the decision. Yes, it will require us to sacrifice a few material things, but that’s a wonderful lesson for our kids. And I look forward to my family (Lisa, wife, Kendall (23), Brooks (19), and Christian (15) participating in the planning for work that will be completed at the complex and allocation decisions with the Tennis Head Coach Nick Zieziula and Athletics Director Patrick Elliott, and hopefully other alumni.

It is truly an honor to be part of Binghamton University and we are incredibly grateful to have a legacy for our family with he naming of the 'Binghamton University Lane Tennis Center.'"

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Former coach Michael Starke says ...
"Michael played for BU men’s tennis my first two years as coach in 1987-89. We were a spirited and competitive squad and Michael saw action in both singles and doubles. 

Michael's tennis game blossomed after college and he competed in national age group tournaments as well as advancing to USTA league nationals. He has played everywhere he travels across the globe, connecting him to the world-wide tennis family. His lifelong passion for the sport as well as being a BU alumni have simply grown with time.

Michael's generous donation helped lead our first significant tennis alumni driven facility improvement. Just as important has been his unwavering support of the program and school with his hosting alumni events, attending and speaking at numerous gatherings and his position as a Board of Trustee. Michael wears his Bearcat heart on his sleeve!

What I am perhaps most happy for is that Michael met his soulmate and wife Lisa here at Binghamton as an undergraduate. I consider Michael a close friend whom I trust and admire. He is leading the way for the future of tennis alumni."