DEKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier announced the hiring of Eric Burns as the 10th head coach of the Huskie women's tennis program Tuesday.
 
"With over 20 years' experience, Eric brings an enormous amount of tennis knowledge and experience to the NIU women's tennis program," said Frazier. "After a thorough search, it was clear that Eric's background of coaching success, as well as his academic strength among the programs he has coached, will not only help him build a championship-caliber program here at NIU but will prepare our student-athletes for success outside of NIU. I am excited to have Eric leading our women's tennis program and be a part of that progression."
 
Burns joins NIU after leading both the Wright State men's and women's tennis programs the last four seasons. Under his leadership, the Raiders women's tennis team amassed a 72-50 record and qualified for the Horizon League Tournament each year. Wright State appeared in the championship match in 2016 and 2017 and the semifinals in 2018 and 2019. Burns led the Raiders to two 20-win seasons in three seasons and mentored six All-Horizon League selections during his tenure.
 
"I really want to thank Sean Frazier, Lisa Stocksdale and the whole search committee for giving me the opportunity to come on board and work with the women's tennis team," Burns said. "I'm really excited for the opportunity to coach one team and work with a MAC-caliber team. I'm looking forward to being in the MAC and working with these ladies and see what we can accomplish."
 
A native of Hanover, Ind., Burns served as the men's and women's tennis head coach at Purdue Fort Wayne for 13 seasons before the programs were discontinued in 2015. During his tenure, the women won 232 matches and four Summit League titles, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2010, 2011 and 2013. The 2010 NCAA appearance was the first in program history.
 
Burns led the Mastodon's women's team to 10 consecutive winning seasons, including five 20-win campaigns, while capturing the Summit League regular season championships in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013. The Mastodons never finished lower than third in the regular season standings with four titles and advanced to the Summit League Championship finals six times, winning three.
 
In addition to being successful on the court, Burns-led teams excelled in the classroom. The Wright State women's tennis team was selected as an ITA All-Academic Team all four years of his tenure, and the PFW women's tennis squads earned the same honor in 12 of his 13 seasons. He also coached four CoSIDA All-Academic District selections at PFW, including the first CoSIDA Academic All-American, Ingrid Ballus, in school history in 2011.
 
Burns got his coaching start as an assistant at Franklin in 2000 and was a volunteer at Anderson University in 2001. He then worked as an assistant at Purdue Fort Wayne for one season under Roxann Krahn before taking over as head coach in 2002. Burns also served as an assistant boys coach at Shelbyville High School in 2000, helping them to their first ever semi-state appearance.
 
A 1999 graduate of Franklin College, Burns was a four-year letterwinner for the Grizzlies and helped lead them to the only Heartland Athletic Conference title in school history in 1999, while capturing two individual conference titles. He graduated from Franklin with a bachelor's in physical education and earned his master's degree in sports administration from Ball State in 2003.
 
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