CHICAGO, Ill. -- After four successful years as an assistant coach, Alice Copland has been promoted to Head Coach of the North Park University Women's Tennis team, as announced by Director of Athletics John Born on Tuesday morning.
"I am thrilled to announce Alice Copland as the new head tennis coach at North Park University," said Born. "After three impactful seasons as an assistant coach with the Vikings, Alice brings a deep understanding of our program and a proven ability to lead. She brings a wealth of experience, unmatched passion, and a proven track record of cultivating excellence both on and off the court. Under Coach Copland's leadership, North Park Tennis is poised for an exciting new chapter."
Copland played a pivotal role in the 2024 season, helping guide the Vikings to a 16-win campaign and a runner-up finish in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament. She contributed to the team's first-ever regular season victory over Wheaton College, which secured the program's first-ever conference title this past fall.
"I am thrilled to be taking on this new role at NPU," said Copland. "I am honored to follow in Coach Karl Soderstrom's footsteps and lead this incredible program. Bring on the fall season!"
Before joining the NPU coaching staff, Copland competed for the University of Montevallo from 2015 to 2018. During her collegiate career, she served as an athletic senator and a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). She was recognized as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athlete, earned placement on both the President's and Dean's Lists, and received the Silver Level Presidential Honor Roll distinction.
Former Head Coach Karl Soderstrom praised Copland's readiness for the role:
"Alice is skilled in all the things a coach needs to shape a successful team, is deeply connected with the current players, and is passionate about North Park. I'm excited that she will be taking over!"
In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Copland brings international experience, having worked at the Wimbledon Championships in London, UK, where she managed 25 team leaders and 150 retail assistants at the prestigious venue. She also serves full-time as an academic advisor in NPU's School of Business and Nonprofit Management.
