Elizabeth Lumpkin Robinson Named Illinois Women’s Tennis Head Coach
June 17, 2026 | General, Women's Tennis
News
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced on Wednesday the hiring of Elizabeth Lumpkin Robinson as the ninth head coach in Illinois women's tennis program history. A native of Naperville, Illinois, Lumpkin Robinson spent the last three seasons at the helm of the women's team at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC). Lumpkin Robinson has agreed to a five-year contract, pending approval by the UI Board of Trustees at its July meeting.
"We are thrilled to welcome Elizabeth Lumpkin Robinson to the Illini famILLy," said Whitman. "Elizabeth is a proven winner with roots in our state as both a player and coach. She is arguably the most decorated prep player in Illinois history and later captained UCLA to the NCAA Championship. Most recently, she has spent three seasons at our sister school, UIC, where she led the Flames to two Missouri Valley Conference championships and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Elizabeth is excited to build on our proud women's tennis tradition, and I have great confidence that we will elevate the program to new heights under her leadership."
"I want to thank Josh Whitman and Cassie Arner for the opportunity to lead the University of Illinois women's tennis program," Lumpkin Robinson began. "I am excited for the honor and responsibility of joining the Big Ten and striving for greatness. Our family is thrilled to remain in our home state and for the opportunity to make history.
"The investment and commitment to excellence at the University of Illinois is tremendous and I'm honored to build upon the strong foundation of Coach Clark," continued Lumpkin Robinson. "The electric energy of the Fighting Illini community and renowned academics of U of I provides our current and future student-athletes an exceptional experience."
During her three-year tenure at UIC, Lumpkin Robinson led the Flames to a collective 41-24 record in dual matches including a 19-4 reading in Missouri Valley Conference tilts. Most recently, Lumpkin Robinson was tabbed the 2026 MVC Coach of the Year after leading UIC to its first regular season conference championship since 2021 and first MVC regular season title in any sport. The Flames finished with a 14-7 overall record during the 2026 campaign, including an undefeated 7-0 mark in MVC action.
Lumpkin Robinson led the Flames to an NCAA Tournament appearance during the 2024-25 season after her squad won the MVC Conference Tournament – the school's first across any sport. UIC went 17-5 across the slate including a 7-1 record in conference play. The Valley's 2025 Player and Freshman of the Year were both UIC Flames.
In Lumpkin Robinson's first year as a head coach, she led UIC to a 10-win season including a 5-3 MVC reading during the 2023-24 campaign. At the time, the Flames' MVC Tournament semifinals appearance was the furthest the tennis program had advanced in MVC history.
Lumpkin Robinson arrived in Chicago after six seasons as an assistant and associate head coach at Oregon. She joined the Oregon staff in 2017 as an assistant coach before rising to associate head coach for the Ducks prior to the 2020-21 season. While in Eugene, Lumpkin Robinson helped lead the Ducks to a pair of NCAA Tournament berths (2018, 2022) and five winning seasons. She also mentored a pair of players to appearances in the NCAA Singles Championship, along with three All-Pac-12 selections and one All-American.
Prior to her tenure at Oregon, Lumpkin Robinson coached and trained elite junior players for eight years at Palm Valley and Indian Ridge Country Clubs in Palm Desert, Calif.
Playing under her maiden name (Lumpkin), Lumpkin Robinson etched her place in the history books early in her tennis career. At Naperville Central High School, she became the first and only girl's tennis player in Illinois prep history to win four consecutive state championships. She was also a member of the United States Junior Fed Cup Team in 2002.
Lumpkin Robinson then went on to a stellar career at UCLA from 2004-08, serving as a captain during her final season (2008) when she went 24-1 in singles play and led the Bruins to their first NCAA national championship. That same year, Lumpkin Robinson was named the ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership Award winner for the West Region and the ITA/Cissie Leary Regional Sportsmanship Award recipient. A three-time member of the Pac-10 All-Academic Team, Robinson, who graduated magna cum laude from UCLA in 2009 with a degree in mass communication/media studies, still ranks eighth in school history for career wins (101).
Lumpkin Robinson went on to compete on the WTA and ITF pro tennis circuit from 2009-13. She had career-high world rankings of No. 443 in singles and No. 280 in doubles, notching wins over several Grand Slam competitors. Lumpkin Robinson won six doubles titles and one singles crown during her four-year pro career.
Accompanying Lumpkin Robinson off the courts is her husband, Jason, as well as their daughter, Bailey, and son, Cooper.
Career Timeline
2004-08 – UCLA student-athlete
2009-13 – WTA/ITF Pro Tennis Circuits
2009-17 – Palm Valley and Indian Ridge Country Clubs (Palm Desert, Calif.), Juniors Coach
2017-20 – Oregon, Assistant Coach
2020-23 – Oregon, Associate Head Coach
2023-26 – UIC, Head Coach
June 2026 – Present – Illinois, Head Coach
