Women's Tennis | August 17

DeKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier announced women's tennis head coach Eric Burns has received a contract extension to continue leading the Huskies, agreeing to a deal through 2030.  

"Coach Burns has done an excellent job of leading our women's tennis program and it continues to succeed on the courts and in the classroom," said Frazier. "With back-to-back postseason appearances, women's tennis has reached new heights in recent years, and we are pleased reward Eric for the excellent job he has done leading the program." 

Leading the program since 2019-20, Burns holds the highest winning percentage in program history (.591) and ranks second on the all-time wins list with 110. Burns now has 414 career wins following 2025-26, ranking in the top 15 among active coaches in Division I and top 50 in career winning percentage (.605) among active Division I women's tennis head coaches. 

"I want to thank Sean T. Frazier, Chris Barker and Scott Foelske for giving me the opportunity to keep building this program. We have had remarkable support from our administration, supporters and Huskie nation," said Burns. "I want to thank everyone for this. I have really had fun building this program." 

Under Burns, the Huskies have qualified for back-to-back postseason tournaments for the first time in program history and have won 15 or more matches in each of the last three seasons. NIU posted school-record 22 wins in 2025 and defeated Missouri in 2026, the first win over a Power Conference team since at least 2005.  

"I'm proud of everything our program has accomplished over the past seven years," said Burns. "We have been fortunate to have some great people, students and tennis players on this team, who have helped build this success. I know we will have many other great days ahead." 

The Huskies have produced on the courts and in the classroom since Burns' arrival, earning Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team recognition every year since 2020. During Burns' tenure, five Huskies have reached the 100-Win Club, including the program's all-time and singles wins leader Nataly Ninova (2022-26).  

Burns has played a key role in advancing NIU tennis, helping bring the first on-campus home for NIU men's and women's tennis in the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House and adding on-court cameras.  

NIU will transition to the Horizon League beginning in the 2026-27 season.  

"Heading into the Horizon League, we are well positioned as a program. We are coming off two of the most successful seasons in school history," said Burns. "The last two years have given us relevant championship experience with the conference championship berth in 2025 and the NIT appearances in 2025 and 2026."