CHICAGO (Aug. 6, 2026) – The UIC Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced Thursday that it has named Ryan Jump as the Flames' next women's tennis head coach, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Jump spent the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach at UIC, helping guide the Flames to the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship with a perfect 7-0 league record while also contributing to the program's first win over a Big Ten Conference opponent (Indiana) since 2010.
 
"Ryan has already made a tremendous impact on our women's tennis program, and throughout this search, it became clear that he is the right leader to build upon the championship foundation already established here at UIC," said Director of Athletics Andrea Williams. "He is an exceptional teacher, a proven winner and someone who genuinely invests in the development of his student-athletes, both on and off the court. Ryan understands what it means to represent UIC and our Culture of Champions, and I am confident he will continue elevating our women's tennis program while providing an outstanding experience for every student-athlete."
 
"I'm incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the UIC women's tennis program," Jump said. "After spending the past year with our student-athletes, I know firsthand the character, talent and commitment within this program. I'm excited to build on our recent success and continue developing a championship culture that represents our University with pride."
 
Prior to joining UIC, Jump enjoyed tremendous success as the first full-time head coach for both the men's and women's tennis programs at North Central College (NCC) in Naperville, Illinois. Jump worked with the Cardinals' women's program from 2017-24, compiling a 108-46 (.701) record and leading NCC to three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances and three College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) regular season titles. A three-time CCIW Coach of the Year on the women's side, he mentored 16 all-conference selections and 17 players who earned CCIW Player of the Week accolades, along with 44 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic honorees. His NCC women's squads also captured six ITA Team Academic Awards during his tenure.

He also led the NCC men's tennis program from 2018-24, posting a 102-49 (.675) record while guiding the Cardinals to the 2022 NCAA Division III Tournament and the CCIW championship. A two-time CCIW Men's Tennis Coach of the Year, Jump developed 10 all-conference picks and 16 CCIW Players of the Week, as well as 26 ITA All-Academic selections. In addition, the NCC men were three-time ITA All-Academic Team honorees under his tutelage.

Between his time at North Central and his current role at UIC, Jump served as director of racquets at the Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove, Illinois, from 2024-26. He was also the assistant tennis professional at the Hawthorn Woods (Ill.) Country Club from 2013-17, where he was head coach of the junior club team. In addition, he was on the ITA Division III Operating Committee in 2023-24.

A standout student-athlete at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Jump was a four-time All-CCIW selection and twice qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament. He is the winningest player in school history (91 career singles victories) and was a three-year team captain before earning the CCIW's Merle Chapman Leadership Award in 2016. Jump graduated that same year from Carthage with a bachelor's degree in communications and public relations and spent the following year as a graduate assistant for both the men's and women's tennis programs at Carthage. The Mundelein, Illinois, product subsequently earned his master's degree with an emphasis in leadership studies from North Central in 2020.
 
For more information on the UIC women's tennis program, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media on X (@UIC_WTEN and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_wten and @uicflames).