Kenneth Talmadge Rand, Jr, 69, died at his home in Virginia Beach, VA on Jan. 23, 2019.  Born to Marion S. and Kenneth T. Rand in Raleigh, NC, Ken did his undergraduate at Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College), and his masters at Old Dominion University (ODU).

At a young age in Raleigh, Ken began a long history of winning tennis tournaments that continued in college, playing the #1 singles position for four years, and leading the team to the top of NAIA tennis.  He was inducted into the Barton College Athletic Hall of Fame and is considered the cornerstone in building the men’s tennis program there.

He went on to become the Head Tennis Coach at ODU.  Coach Rand developed a winning tennis program at ODU, with a Colonial Conference Championship, two state championships, and was selected as the “Colonial Conference Coach of the Year” for two consecutive years.  Additionally, he is credited with expanding the ODU conference schedule beyond the Colonial Conference to include such tennis powerhouses as Duke University, University of Virginia, Clemson, Florida State, University of North Carolina and many others.  Coach Rand also developed a tennis scholarship program that attracted many nationally ranked young tennis players to ODU, helping ensure a strongly competitive ODU team for the future.  Coach Rand oversaw the expansion of the tennis facilities at ODU to include eight new outdoor courts plus a stadium court for championship matches.  After retiring, he traveled, volunteered teaching tennis, played golf with his many wonderful friends, and spent time with his family.

Although tennis was his passion, he considered his two children to be his greatest accomplishment.  He was predeceased by his parents.  He is survived by his son Kenneth Talmadge Rand, III and wife, Andrea of Virginia Beach, VA; and his daughter, Brittany R. Smith of Rockville, MD, as well as four grandchildren.  Additionally, he is survived by three sisters:  Linda R. Caviness (Tim) of Williamsburg, VA; Patricia R. Chamberlain of Raleigh, NC and Martha R. Boyle (Doug) of Chapel Hill, NC and a number of nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Ken’s Life will be held at 2pm Friday, February 1, 2019 in the Garden Room, 653 Thalia Rd, Virginia Beach.  A service in Raleigh, NC will be held the following week.  Details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation, at www.michaeljfox.org. Cremation Society of Virginia assisted the family with arrangements.