URBANA, ILL. – Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced Friday that Evan Clark has been named head coach of the Illinois women's tennis team. Clark served as the program's interim coach throughout the 2015-16 season and had been with the Fighting Illini since December 2014 in an assistant role.
"I am extremely grateful to Josh Whitman and search committee chair Ryan Squire for allowing me this opportunity and trusting me to lead the Fighting Illini women's tennis program moving forward," Clark said. "We will continue to work hard to develop our student-athletes on the court, in the classroom and in all aspects of their life. We all understand that Illinois is a very special place and I am excited to build a program here of which everyone can be proud. I look forward to taking the progress that was made last year and building the program into a national contender annually."
During the 2015-16 campaign, Clark oversaw the Fighting Illini turn in their most productive season since 2012. The team posted a 15-9 overall record that included an 8-3 reading in Big Ten action for fourth place and advancement to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals. Illinois turned in a collective 41-8 record on the doubles courts across the dual season under the interim guidance of Clark.
In the two seasons that Clark has been with the Illini program, the teams have compiled an overall dual record of 29-19, including a 14-8 mark in Big Ten action. With Clark on the staff, the Illini also have turned in a seven-match winning streak during back-to-back seasons for just the fourth time in program history.
"Evan provided outstanding leadership for our program this past season, and we are excited to transition him to the permanent position of head women's tennis coach," Whitman said. "He has done a tremendous coaching job with a young roster, setting the stage for more success in the years to come. Evan has an aggressive vision for the program and is the right person to be leading Fighting Illini women's tennis in its pursuit of championships."
Clark and the University of Illinois have inked a four-year agreement, keeping the Liberty, Missouri, native with the Orange and Blue through the 2020 season. Officially at the helm of the program, Clark marks the eighth head coach in Illinois women's tennis program history.
Prior to Illinois, Clark served as the head coach of the UNC Wilmington women's team for two seasons and helped the Seahawks to the program's first Colonial Athletic Association conference championship. Clark was named the CAA's Coach of the Year and had players named both the CAA Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Under the direction of Clark, UNCW posted a combined record of 31-11.
The University of Missouri – Kansas City graduate has also spent time with the Maryland men's team, Penn State women's team and UMKC women's team after earning his degree in 2006.
With a perfect 31-0 record, Clark took home the 2002 Missouri High School 4A State Singles Championship and was voted the Kansas City Star Tennis Male Athlete of the Year. He went on to be named First-Team All-Mid-Continent Conference following his collegiate debut season. Clark served as captain of the UM-Kansas City men's tennis team from 2002-04. During the 2004-05 season, Clark wrapped up his collegiate career as a member of the Arkansas men's tennis program before returning to UMKC to earn his degree in psychology.
Accompanying Clark off the courts is his wife, Katelynn, as well as their son, Tripp and daughter, Harper.
