CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced Wednesday a contract extension for longtime Fighting Illini men's tennis head coach Brad Dancer, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees at its March 20 meeting. The new agreement keeps Dancer on contract through the 2030-31 season.
"Brad Dancer is a trusted, veteran leader in our athletics department and one of the most accomplished coaches throughout all of collegiate tennis, and we are thrilled to extend our partnership through the next six years as he continues to lead a championship caliber men's tennis program," Whitman said. "Brad is a relentless competitor who inspires his athletes and is committed to their development both on and off the court. Despite decades of success, he is never complacent, exhausting every avenue each day to push his team to new heights. We are grateful to Brad and his family for becoming ingrained into the fabric of the University of Illinois community, and we look forward to many more successful years for Fighting Illini Men's Tennis."
Currently in his 20th season as head coach and 21st campaign overall at Illinois, Dancer has guided the Orange and Blue to 17 NCAA Tournament berths, 11 Sweet 16 appearances, three Big Ten Tournament titles, and two Big Ten regular-season conference championships, building on the program's longstanding winning tradition.Â
"This is an incredibly exciting opportunity, both personally and professionally. My wife, Haylie, and our four boys all have so many close relationships here and love being part of the Champaign-Urbana community. I'm incredibly grateful to Josh and the Board of Trustees for their continued trust. It is an honor to have the responsibility of competing for championships, and our staff will continue to lean into those challenges," Dancer said. "It is an exhilarating time at the University of Illinois. From the campus to Josh Whitman, there is a vision of excellence for Fighting Illini Athletics. This resonates within our own program and my personal philosophies. University life is a time when young adults come to gain maturity and confidence, and I consider it an honor to have been entrusted with that process for our student-athletes over the past 20 years.
"As we move forward, this extension offers me the chance to continue that mission: to seek and pull out greatness from our student-athletes. I am proud of the work we have already done during my time at Illinois, and I cannot wait to continue working toward our goals of competing for Big Ten and NCAA championships."
Since taking over as head coach on June 28, 2005, Dancer has become the Illinois men's tennis program's all-time winningest coach while currently ranking as the eighth-winningest coach in Big Ten history. A two-time ITA Regional Coach of the Year, Dancer has coached 28 All-Americans, 42 All-Big Ten honorees, four Big Ten Players of the Year, and two Big Ten Freshmen of the Year during his tenure with the Orange and Blue.
Dancer coached Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe to the 2006 NCAA doubles title and propelled Illinois to No. 2 in the nation, a spot it held for a large portion of the season. The following year, the Illini reached the finals of the 2007 NCAA Championships, finishing as runner-up for the second-highest finish in program history. That same season, defending NCAA doubles champions Anderson and Rowe finished runner-up, becoming the first Illinois doubles team in almost 40 years to make championship finals with the same partner in back-to-back seasons.
Whether as a team or individually, the Orange and Blue have consistently ranked in the top 20 nationally since Dancer took over for Craig Tiley. The Illini have posted winning records in 17 of 19 seasons under Dancer's guidance, including 10 seasons of 20 or more victories. Â
Thus far during the 2024-25 campaign, Dancer helped Kenta Miyoshi earn ITA All-America status and move up to a career-high No. 12 in the ITA singles rankings; coached the Illini up to No. 16 in the national team rankings; and guided Tyler Bowers, William Mroz, and Zach Viiala into the ITA individual rankings for the first time in their respective careers.
Dancer holds a record of 382-178 overall and 157-38 in Big Ten play during his time at the helm of the Fighting Illini, with his overall wins and conference victories both ranking first in program history.
