CLEVELAND, OH – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced today an agreement with University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) to become an affiliate member of the league for men’s tennis, beginning with the 2023-24 academic year.
With the addition of UIC, the conference will consist of six men’s tennis programs – five from full MAC membership (Ball State, Buffalo, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan) and one affiliate member (UIC).
“I am pleased to welcome UIC as an affiliate member in men’s tennis,” said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher. “The Flames will enjoy the strong competition in the Mid-American Conference and I expect their addition will foster rivalries that will only increase interest and attention for our men’s tennis programs.”
The men's tennis program has a long history at UIC, dating back to the school's opening as University of Illinois at Chicago Circle (UICC) in 1965. Men's tennis has been a sponsored sport at the institution since the Flames' move to Division 1 in 1981.
Under first year head coach Jovan Parlic, the men’s tennis program had one of its best seasons in recent history, earning the No. 2 seed in the Southland Conference after going 3-2 in conference play, including defeating eventual conference champion Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Senior Aleksa Bucan was named Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-Conference. Over the past ten years, the Flames have totaled eight all-conference selections, including three First Team All-League selections.
Off the court, men’s tennis is annually among the Flames’ most outstanding academic achievers. After posting a 3.58 team GPA for the 2022 calendar year, the program received the Chancellor’s Cup, given to the men’s and women’s programs with the highest team GPAs at UIC. The program also posted a perfect single season APR score of 1,000, as announced in early May by the NCAA.
"We are excited for our men’s tennis student-athletes to compete in the MAC next year,” said UIC Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz. “It’s a highly competitive environment in the right geographic footprint for our program. We thank the league and its members for their partnership and look forward to the upcoming season.”
“We’re eager for the chance to compete at a high level and join the Mid-American Conference,” added UIC Head Coach Jovan Parlic. “Our hard work has prepared us to showcase our skills and make a meaningful impact in this great conference. Thank you to Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz and the MAC for this opportunity. We look forward to the upcoming season and getting started.”
This past season, Toledo captured its first MAC Men’s Tennis Tournament title since 1973. With the victory, the Rockets earned an automatic into the NCAA Championship Tournament.