Dupage Policy Journal

Connor Barnard has been appointed as the Director of Tennis at Millikin University, as announced by the Millikin Athletic Department and Vice President for Athletics and Community Engagement Lori Kerans. Barnard will oversee both the men's and women's tennis programs.

"We are so excited to welcome Connor Barnard to Millikin University," Kerans stated. "As the Director of Tennis, Coach Barnard will lead our men's and women's tennis programs, and will hit the ground running preparing for this Fall."

Barnard, originally from Iowa, returns to NCAA Division III athletics after serving as an assistant coach at Wichita State and the University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA). At UTSA, he helped achieve a record start for their women's tennis team with a 13-0 streak and their highest program ranking at #44 in Division I.

Before his tenure at UTSA, Barnard was an assistant men's coach at Wichita State. There he contributed to coaching Alejandro Jacome, named Intercollegiate Tennis Association Central Region Freshman of the Year, alongside regionally-ranked doubles players Kristof Minarik and Alex Richards.

His coaching career began in Cedar Falls, Iowa where he was a graduate assistant at Northern Iowa before joining UTSA's staff. He also worked as a tennis professional in Reno, Nevada with high school athletes and coached at Cedar Falls High School.

"Coach Barnard's experience coaching both men and women at the collegiate level, as well as his own outstanding collegiate career as a student-athlete have prepared him well for this opportunity," said Kerans. "After conducting a national search, and a thorough interview process, the search committee unanimously recommended Coach Barnard to lead Millikin Big Blue Tennis."

Barnard's playing career includes being named Simpson College Freshman of the Year before transferring to Wartburg College where he earned all-conference honors in doubles three times in the American Rivers Conference. As a senior captain there, he also received singles accolades. His early success included winning a state championship in high school.

Expressing his enthusiasm about joining Millikin University, Barnard said: "I am very excited to start this new journey with Millikin University and the Decatur community. I am looking forward to continuing to build successful Men's and Women's tennis programs. Go Big Blue!"

Barnard will guide teams competing within the challenging College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin while engaging with Decatur's rich tennis history through venues like Fairview Tennis Complex which hosts various United States Tennis Association tournaments including this summer's Illinois Women's Pro Tennis Championship.