Dec. 10, 2008

Chicago, Ill. - University of Illinois at Chicago athletic director Jim Schmidt announced on Wednesday, December 10 that head women's tennis coach Shannon Tully has signed a four-year contract.

The extension will keep Tully at UIC through the 2011-12 season.

During her seven-year tenure with UIC, Tully has guided the women's tennis team to seven straight NCAA tournament appearances while winning seven Horizon League titles.

"The unprecedented success achieved by our women's tennis program is a testament to Shannon's hard work and leadership as the head coach," said Schmidt. "It is not easy to sustain such championship streaks when the target is always on your back, but Shannon's program has stepped up to the challenges each year and we look forward to more great things from Shannon and the UIC women's tennis team."

"I would like to thank Jim Schmidt for giving me the opportunity to continue building our great tennis tradition here at UIC," said Tully. "I am extremely proud to be able to associate myself with the success of UIC women's tennis. Each of my seven years here has brought a new challenge, and I have to credit my players for stepping up and facing that test every time."

"I have high expectations for the future of this program," said Tully. "UIC gives its student-athletes such a well-rounded college experience, and with so much excitement going on with UIC Athletics right now, and with so many positive changes on campus, I can't imagine anywhere else I'd rather be than here."

Tully owns 106-62 career dual match record at UIC. The Flames have never dropped a match to a Horizon League rival under Tully's watch, with UIC accumulating a perfect 70-0 conference mark since 2002.

The 2008 team made history after extending UIC's consecutive conference dual match winning streak to 103 straight victories, one of the longest streaks of its kind in the country, dating back to the 1996 season. Tully has helped extend the Flames' streaks of 12 straight league championships and 10 consecutive NCAA postseason appearances.

Tully has coached five Horizon League Player of the Year selections and four league Newcomer of the Year winners, with current sophomore Ilinca Cristescu earning both honors in 2008. Her student-athletes have earned 25 All-Horizon League honors.

Since 2002 Tully has earned Horizon League Coach of the Year honors five times, winning the award in each of the last four seasons.