For the past 27 years, the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) has been one of the most competitive conferences in all of NCAA Division III for women's tennis. For 16 seasons in the 1980s and 90s, North Park University played an important role in this competitive atmosphere, and will again get the chance when a new Vikings women's tennis program launches in Fall 2014.
Dr. Karl Clifton-Soderstrom, associate professor of philosophy at North Park, will be the head coach for the reenergized squad and is eager to bring the sport back to the prominence it once had here on campus. Clifton-Soderstrom previously coached North Park's women's tennis team mid-1990s when he was a graduate student at the University.
"I want to coach for the same reason I went into teaching: to be a mentor to young people in their journey to becoming mature adults and being passionate about life," Clifton-Soderstrom said. "So they can push themselves to become truly excellent at whatever it is they desire to achieve."
The idea of fielding a tennis team was brought to light about a year ago in a discussion between Clifton-Soderstrom, Director of Athletics Dr. Jack Surridge, and Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing Nathan Mouttet.
"It was casually mentioned to me that North Park was looking to start women's tennis again," Clifton-Soderstrom said. "I expressed immediate support for the program and said that I'd be interested in being involved however I could. At the end of that summer, Dr. Surridge presented me with a sketch of the program and the opportunity to coach."
From the onset, Dr. Surridge knew Clifton-Soderstrom would be an excellent fit as a coach, given his background with the team and his own career as a collegiate tennis player. As an undergraduate student at North Park, Clifton-Soderstrom served as a captain for the men's team under coach Robert Farrington.
"He's a great leader and mentor," Surridge said. "Karl exemplifies what we're looking for in a tennis coach not only because of his experience with the team, but his love for the sport and his ambition to help student-athletes attain their ultimate goals."
Since being appointed head coach, Clifton-Soderstrom has been actively involved with the recruiting process for next year's team, on North Park's campus as well as in in local high schools.
"I've been reaching out to local coaches and have begun building relationships," he said. "I am confident that we will field a strong team in 2014."
Starting a new program, Clifton-Soderstrom is going into the season with two chief goals. "I want to establish among the players a culture of discipline, excellence, and joy in the game. I also want to establish the group of players as a team that not only push one another to improve, but support one another through an inaugural season against tough competition."
"Our short-term goal in 2014 and beyond is to qualify for the conference tournament as one of the top-four teams. But my long- term goal—as I take my inspiration from head baseball coach Luke Johnson—is to take this team to where the baseball program has been over the last several years: a highly competitive team on a national level," Clifton-Soderstrom said.
The Vikings tennis team will compete and host meets at Northeastern Illinois University's facilities, not far from North Park's campus. Alterations will also be made to the Helwig Recreation Center to accommodate indoor practice during the offseason and colder months.
"The CCIW is highly competitive in tennis, with Wheaton and Augustana leading the way," Clifton-Soderstrom said. "The great thing about our players is that they'll get an opportunity to compete as starters against some of the best competition in the country."
He added, "Having the opportunity to coach them at North Park and at that level will be an exciting challenge. I believe North Park offers our student-athletes an exceptional experience of growing both academically and athletically."
