Illinois tennis head coaches, Brad Dancer  (Men’s Tennis) and Evan Clark (Women’s Tennis) announced on July 10, 2018 the addition of Eric West to their respective staffs as Director of Operations.

He brings both Division I playing and coaching experience, along with high-level youth coaching experience to the Illini. West joins the Fighting Illini Tennis programs after three seasons as an assistant coach for the Cincinnati Bearcats women’s tennis program.

Prior to Cincinnati, he worked as an assistant tennis professional at the Shadow Mountain Racquet Club & Oak Tree Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. Following his playing career, he also spent one season as a Volunteer Assistant Coach at Oklahoma State from 2012-13. Completed his professional career by participating in many ITF Future and ATP Challenger Tournaments.

During his collegiate career, West spent his last three years at Oklahoma state where he was selected as an All-Big 12 second-team selection in 2012 and totaled 47 career singles wins and 40 career doubles. He also helped the Cowboys achieve a spot in the top-25 national rankings several times throughout his career.

West began his freshman season at Southern Illinois-Carbondale, where he recorded a singles record of 27-9 and a doubles mark of 29-4 and was named Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Freshman of the Year for his efforts during the 2008-09 season.  

The 2008 Oklahoma High School Player of the Year, West held a top-50 singles and top-10 doubles USTA junior ranking.

A native of Tulsa, Okla., West graduated from Oklahoma State in 2012 with a Bachelor degree in Business Management. Furthered his education at the University of  Cincinnati where he received a Master of Science in Marketing.