Associate head coach Marcos Asse is in his 13th season with the Orange and Blue and 11th as the associate head coach of the Illinois men’s tennis team.

In Asse’s 10 seasons at Illinois, the Illini have made 10 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the quarterfinals in 2018 and six Sweet Sixteen appearances. Most recently, Asse aided the Illini to a No. 15 placement in the final Oracle/ITA Rankings for the 2018-19 season, along with a 19-9 overall record, including 10-1 in Big Ten play and a runner-up finish in the conference.

Under Asse’s guidance, the Illini have developed and produced individual success on the court, including six student-athletes earning All-American honors, 10 individuals awarded All-Big Ten, and two players winning Big Ten Athlete of the Year. In 2014, Illinois made history as the only school to have four individuals earn All-America honors in the same season. Additionally, Asse helped coach Jared Hiltzik to a Big Ten Freshman of the Year honor, along with Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship honoree Bruno Abdelnour.

On the ITA circuit, Asse helped coach two individuals to ITA Regional Senior Player of the Year and three ITA Regional Arthur Ashe Award winners. Additionally, Marek Czerwinski and Dennis Nevolo garnered the 2009-10 ITA Regional title, while Aron Hiltzik was named ITA Regional Player to Watch in 2017.

2015 proved to be a successful year for the Illini as Jared Hiltzik reached the quarterfinals of the 2015 NCAA Singles Championships, becoming the first Illini to do so since Illini great Kevin Anderson in 2007. For his coaching efforts, Asse was named the 2015 ITA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year.

Alongside Dancer, Asse has had several former Illini move on to successful professional careers, most notably J. Hiltzik, Nevolo, and Farris Gosea. J. Hiltzik has garnered five Future titles including his first singles title at the Memphis Futures in 2017. Playing for Great Britain, Gosea has recorded a win-loss doubles record of 84-62, along with six Future titles. Nevolo has captured seven Future titles, including his first singles title at the USA F24 Futures. The former All-American has a winning ITF career singles record of 120-89.

Asse’s collegiate coaching career started at the College of William and Mary where he served five years as an assistant coach and associate head coach. From 2004-09, Asse helped the Tribe achieve several accomplishments, including a Colonial Athletics Association title, NCAA tournament appearances in 2005 and 2007, and three consecutive 16-win seasons in his final three years with the program. 2007 proved to be a historical year for the tribe as Asse lead his team to its highest ranking ever. Due to this success, Assee was promoted to associate head coach in 2007.  In 2008, he helped three players make the NCAA Individual Championships for the first time in over 60 years at William and Mary.

Asse graduated in 2001 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from University of Florida. He walked onto the Florida tennis team as a freshman and earned playing time throughout his career. He was a contributor to Florida’s 2000 SEC championship team, posting 21 wins in doubles, which ranks 10th in Florida history for a single season.

Asse is married to fellow Florida graduate Nikki, and the couple have two daughters, Stella and Ana.