HAMMOND, Ind. — Head Coach Lucian Tabic will depart the Purdue University Northwest Men's and Women's Tennis programs after six seasons to pursue other career opportunities.
"On behalf of the Pride of PNW, I want to thank Lucian Tabic for his hard work and efforts in leading the tennis teams over the past six years," said Director of Athletics Rick Costello. "Lou was instrumental in transitioning PNW Tennis to the NCAA Division II level and built successful programs on and off the court. I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors."
Tabic joined the Pride as head men's and women's tennis coach prior to the 2016-17 season. He had immediate success by earning Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year after leading the women's team to the conference tournament semifinals.
The PNW men's and women's tennis teams recorded numerous program records under Tabic's leadership. Most notably, both teams have set all-time best marks for team grade-point averages while consistently ranking among the top team GPAs at PNW.
Tabic has mentored more than 40 student-athletes that were selected to All-GLIAC Academic teams, and 14 were voted All-GLIAC performers on the court, including the first honoree in program history on the All-GLIAC First Team. Last year, the Pride women's team featured the first finalists in program history at the ITA Regional B Draw.
The PNW men's tennis team finished the 2020-21 season ranked ninth in the Oracle/ITA NCAA Division II Midwest Region Coaches Poll. PNW recorded one of its best seasons in program history with a 9-7 overall record that year and featured a program-record five GLIAC wins and trip to the conference semifinals.
"Our tennis teams accomplished a lot in a short amount of time and it's been my privilege to be a part of that," Tabic said. "Looking back to a full transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, multiple scholar-athletes, individual as well as team success in the GLIAC, an NCAA Woman of the Year conference nominee and multiple all-conference selections, made this experience all the more rewarding. It's been a great six years and I am extremely proud of our student-athletes. Their hard work on and off the tennis courts is remarkable and I look forward to their continued success.
I'm grateful for the relationships developed within the department and I will look back fondly at the shared experiences. I owe a great deal of gratitude to Chancellor Keon, Director of Athletics Rick Costello and Senior Associate Director of Athletics Tom Albano for their tireless efforts on behalf of Purdue Northwest Athletics and for giving me the opportunity to coach at the Division II level."
A national search is underway for the next head men's and women's tennis coach. PNW Athletics will enter its sixth season as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the upcoming 2022-23 school year.
