Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
June 13, 2024 - North Central College athletic director Jim Miller '86 has announced the promotion of
Nathaniel Boatright as the next Cardinal head men's & women's tennis coach. Boatright took over as the interim head men's tennis coach this past spring while serving as the assistant women's coach during the successful 2024 spring campaign.
"Coach Boatright did an excellent job this past spring," said Miller. "He led the men to a 12-1 record since mid-March and won both the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Regular Season and Tournament Titles. Boatright also helped coach the women to the CCIW Tournament Championship, qualifying both teams for the NCAA Tournament."
Boatright joined the Cardinal coaching staff in the fall of 2023 after serving as the head men's tennis coach at the University of St. Francis in Joliet for three seasons. Before coaching for the Fighting Saints, Boatright was an assistant coach at his alma mater Sul Ross State University (Texas) where he also played Division III tennis, graduating in 2018 with degrees in political science and history. Boatright furthered his education by earning a master's degree in health and human performance from Sul Ross State in 2019.
"Being named the next head tennis coach of North Central means a lot to me. It is a great opportunity to coach two nationally-ranked programs and continue to develop student-athletes as they grow both as tennis players and as people," said Boatright.
This past season, the men's tennis team made their second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance by earning the CCIW's automatic bid after an undefeated league schedule. On the women's side, the Cardinals extended their CCIW winning streak to 46 matches in a row while playing in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season.
"The success of the programs helps with the transition from assistant to interim to now head coach. I feel as if it will be a continuation of success rather than a hard stop and restart for both programs," said Boatright.
"Nathaniel has head coaching experience, Division III playing experience and a knowledge of our tennis student-athletes here at North Central," Miller said. "We are looking forward to the success of Cardinal tennis with Nathaniel as our head coach."
The North Central men's tennis team finished the year ranked No. 23 in the country with a 22-4 record. The women's team closed the 2023-24 season ranked No. 27 in Division III with a 23-8 record.
"I would like to thank Jim Miller and the athletic department for trusting me to lead this program," Boatright said. "I am looking forward to continuing the success of both programs and believe we have a blueprint to succeed and develop great student-athletes."
Boatright officially begins his role on July 1. The Cardinal tennis teams are set to begin in late August with a full schedule coming out later this summer.
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