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George Husack enters his second season as the associate head coach of the Illinois men's tennis team. Husack came to Illinois after leading the Santa Clara University men's tennis team to its best season in school history in 2007, while also bringing a total of 12 years of Division I coaching experience to the Fighting Illini.
In the 2007-08 season, Husack helped lead the Illini to their seventh straight NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance and ninth time in the last 10 years. The Illini finished Husack's first season with an overall 20-9 record and were No. 15 in the final ITA poll.
Husack brings an unlimited supply of knowledge and expertise to the Orange and Blue, becoming another integral piece toward keeping Illinois at the top of the collegiate tennis stage.
"Being a part of the Illinois tennis family is incredible," Husack said. "The team chemistry is outstanding and the tenacity with which the team takes to the court is intense. I see only bigger and brighter opportunities in the upcoming seasons here at Illinois and I look forward to being a part of the history of this program."
Husack most recently spent five seasons (2002-07) as head coach at Santa Clara, posting a program-best 20-8 record in 2007 and earning the No. 2 seed at the West Coast Conference Championships behind defending national champion Pepperdine. The Broncos spent a total of 14 weeks in the national polls last season, carding 16 of their 20 wins against ranked opponents. His 2007 Broncos squad also had a conference-best six players earn All-WCC singles and doubles postseason awards. Before becoming the Broncos' 20th head coach in July 2002, the San Mateo, Calif., native was an assistant for seven seasons (1995-2002) at Santa Clara.
While at Santa Clara, Husack managed the Silver Racquet Club, the program's booster club, and produced Netscoop, the program's bimonthly newsletter. He also launched and co-directed the Broncos' Nike Tennis Camp program since 1999. Aside from his duties with the Santa Clara tennis program, Husack was twice selected to coach Team NorCal at the USTA National Team Championships in 2005 and 2006.
A talented coach on the courts, Husack has never overlooked the benefit of engaging alumni and tennis fans alike. He began the Bronco Pro-Am Invitational and Bronco Tennis alumni reunion, two annual events that combined current and former players with SCU tennis supporters. He also created Hecklers on the Hill, the official fan club of Santa Clara tennis composed primarily of students.
Prior to Santa Clara, Husack competed on the International Tennis Federation's Satellite Tour for two years, making tournament stops in Mexico, Germany, Japan and around the United States. In 1996 and `97, he played No. 1 singles and doubles for Tus-Breitscheid of the German Club Tennis League, leading the team to a division championship in 1997.
Before that, the Bay Area native played at San Diego State University. During his senior season, Husack served as team captain and helped guide the Aztecs to their first-ever top-25 national ranking. After receiving his bachelor's degree in finance in 1991, Husack went on to earn his MBA in marketing from the University of San Francisco in 1995.
Husack, and his wife, Kristina, welcomed their first child, daughter Nina, on Sept. 2, 2008.
"Competing against George's teams, I have a deep respect for the manner which his student-athletes hustle and fight in tough situations," head coach Brad Dancer said. "George continues to demand high standards from our student-athletes pushing them past their pre-conceived notions of their limits."
