Former Illini Oliver Okonkwo has decided to try something new, moving entirely into the world of coaching after splitting time between his playing and coaching careers. Okonkwo, who spent the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons at Illinois, used the last several months since graduation playing tennis while also coaching courtside across the world and has since opted to focus on establishing his career in coaching.
"I love the game of tennis, and I have always seen coaching as a way to give back to the sport," Okonkwo said. "If I can be a part of not only increasing the level of tennis for players but also increasing their love for it as much as I do, then it brings me a great sense of accomplishment. An inspiration for me to go into coaching is also seeing how big a part my coaches have had in my life, and I hope I can be that person for the players I work with."
Okonkwo is currently coaching at College Park Athletic Club in Bannockburn, Illinois, located in Chicago's northern suburbs. Illinois alum Blake Bazarnik, who played at Illinois from 2013-15, serves as the general manager at the facility.
A native of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, Okonkwo reached a career-best ATP doubles ranking of 455 in February and a career-high ATP singles mark of 1350 in July.
After spending the first four years of his collegiate career at Iowa, Okonkwo joined the Orange and Blue in 2022, making an immediate impact with a 19-12 overall singles record and a 20-14 doubles tally. Going 5-1 in singles and 3-2 in doubles during Big Ten play, he secured Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recognition in his debut campaign at Illinois.
In his second and final season with the Illini, Okonkwo climbed to a career-best No. 27 mark in the ITA doubles rankings while going 20-6 on the doubles courts. Clinching Illinois' upset win over No. 17 North Carolina on Feb. 3, 2024, he once again accumulated several academic awards, including Academic All-Big Ten, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and ITA Scholar Athlete honors.
Since earning his master's degree in kinesiology from Illinois in May 2024, Okonkwo has played in tournaments at the ITF and ATP Challenger Tour levels, including appearances in the doubles finals at ITF M25 Pensacola (FL), ITF M25 Edwardsville (IL), and ITF M15 Palm Coast (FL).
He credits Illini coaches Brad Dancer and Tim Kopinski for their roles in his pursuit of coaching. Okonkwo says he will apply several of their philosophies and tactics to his efforts in the industry.
"I have learned a lot from both Brad and TK," Okonkwo said. "One main point is that player-coach relationships are more than just what the coach can teach the player on the court. It's also a relationship where coaches can help players with life stressors. I learned that coaches are mentors, too. I feel like I can go to both Brad and TK with any problem I have in life, and I want to have that connection with my players, too.
"One of the biggest coaching principles on the court that they embody is that tennis is a problem-solving game when helping players become better. How can we use what we have and make the player better, rather than just identifying weaknesses? That helped me make big jumps in my own game."
As he continues to adjust to life after playing on tour, Okonkwo hopes to eventually coach at the collegiate and professional levels. He has already worked with players on the ATP Tour, including Giles Hussey and James Mackinlay. Prepared for whatever challenges come his way, he is eager to make an impact and serve as a role model for the next generation of tennis players.
"Now is the right time for me to transition from playing to coaching because I've been struggling a lot physically with my body," Okonkwo said. "Coaching is a way I can still be a part of the sport and use what I have learned on the tour and in college to teach other players different things that I didn't know at their age."
