Jay Grosset Joins Illinois Men's Tennis Coaching Staff
September 15, 2026 | Men's Tennis
NEWS
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois men's tennis head coach Brad Dancer announced on Tuesday the addition of Jay Grosset to the program's coaching staff.
Grosset will serve as an assistant coach for the Fighting Illini heading into the 2026-27 season.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jay to the staff," Dancer shared. "He brings an external perspective to the program, which, at this moment in collegiate athletics, is important. We have already seen a tremendous increase in recruiting presence from Jay's connections. As Jay learns more about our coaching philosophies, he is going to be even more impactful on court with our student-athletes. Jay is an up-and-coming coach who is very in tune with young athletes' minds. He is going to make a difference here at Illinois."
"I am honored to have the opportunity to work with one of the most respected programs in the history of college tennis and an unbelievable coaching staff in TK and Brad," Grosset said.
Grosset competed at Division II Emmanuel University from 2019-23, posting over 50 singles and doubles victories while competing regularly in the starting lineup. Serving as a team captain during the 2023 season, he earned both ITA All-Academic Student-Athlete and Dean's List honors from 2020-23.
Also helping as an assistant coach with the women's program at Emmanuel in the spring of 2023, Grosset earned an assistant coaching role at the University of Nebraska at Omaha following graduation. With the Mavericks, he assisted with training, match preparation, and team logistics; supported recruiting efforts and enhanced team performance through individualized coaching sessions; and organized and participated in fundraising events involving the community.
He also worked as a tennis pro at the Miracle Hill Tennis Club in Omaha, where he delivered private and group lessons over 30 hours per week, coached a wide range of clients of different ages (4-60+) and levels (NTRP 2.0-5.0), and built relationships with players, coaches at the club, and members of the community.
After one year in Omaha, Grosset took on a graduate assistant coaching position at Wichita State during the 2024-25 season. With the Shockers, he assisted in coaching and mentoring Division I student-athletes in team and individual settings, organized and participated in fundraising events involving the community, contributed to recruiting efforts and performance analysis, built relationships with key donors of the program, and helped with the organization and execution of the summer camps. He was also involved with match preparation, travel logistics, and team operations.
The 2025-26 season saw Grosset serve as a graduate assistant coach at South Alabama. While in Mobile, he assisted in coaching and mentoring Division I student-athletes in team and individual settings, organized and participated in fundraising events involving the community, supported logistical and operational efforts, and contributed to recruiting efforts and performance analysis.
Originally from Chambéry, France, Grosset earned a bachelor's degree in sports management from Emmanuel in 2023, a master's degree in supply chain management from Wichita State in 2025, and a master's degree in exercise science from South Alabama in 2026.
