June 17, 1996

Release # S070 Contact: Adam Levin Sports Information Director Phone #: (207) 786-6411

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bates Names New Women's Racquets Coach

LEWISTON, Maine -- John Illig has been named head coach of women's tennis and squash at Bates College.

Illig spent the last five years coaching at Colby College, the last four as head coach of the women's tennis and squash teams. Over the past two years, Illig has led the Colby women's tennis team to national prominence, achieving consecutive third-place finishes in New England in 1994-95 and 1995-96 and culminating with a season-ending ranking of 12th in the NCAA Division III poll, the highest rank in the program's 28-year history.

As coach of the women's squash team, Illig has led the White Mules to national rankings of 10th and 12th in each of the past two years, also school bests. He coached the school's first ever squash All-American, Kate LaVigne, in 1995.

Illig takes over the squash program from Herb Bunker, who had been at Bates since 1985.

"I'm looking forward to building a program here at Bates," said Illig. "The opportunities for racquet sports here are limitless given the proper stability. The Bates teams I have coached against in the past have consistently impressed me with their attitudes and class. I think it will be a real comfortable fit."

"We are very excited to have John Illig join our staff,"said Suzanne Coffey, director of athletics at Bates. "He brings a sense of steadiness and expertise to Bates women's racquets sports that will be a tremendous asset to the program. [Illig] has proven over the last few years at Colby that he has the ability to take a program to the next level. His rapport with student-athletes is excellent and I have no doubt he will be an exciting addition to our staff."

Illig, a native of Rochester, N.Y., graduated in 1986 with a bachelor of arts degree in English literature from of the University of Rochester, where he competed in the NCAA Division III individual championships in 1984. He has competed in German Team-Tennis Competition in three of the past six summers.

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