May 13, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern assistant coach Chris Drake has been named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Midwest Regional Assistant Coach of the Year. Drake is one of just eight assistant coaches in the nation being recognized for their contributions to their respective programs.
"I firmly believe that Chris Drake is the best assistant coach in Division I men's tennis," said head coach Arvid Swan. "He has made a tremendous impact on our program in every way. Chris has really helped develop the games of all of our players and he is also a great match coach and recruiter. Chris is very deserving of this award."
In just their second season with the team, Drake and Swan guided the Wildcats to an 18-9 overall record and their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2005. This was a spectacular turnaround from a 2008 season that saw the 'Cats with a 7-18 overall record. The team's improvement in conference play was even more stunning as they finished tied for fourth with a 6-4 regular season Big Ten mark, after being winless in 2008.
Whether coaching during a match or hitting during practice, Drake's insight and experience have paid great dividends to each and every Wildcat. Drake came to Northwestern after a three-year stint in professional tennis, achieving ATP rankings in both singles and doubles. He played his collegiate tennis at Brown University, leading his team to its first Ivy League title.
The Midwest Region, one of eight regional divisions in the nation governed by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, includes nine of the eleven Big Ten universities as well as many other area schools, including powerhouse Notre Dame.