The most decorated girls' tennis player in Illinois prep history is now a Big Ten head coach.

Elizabeth Lumpkin Robinson, who won four consecutive IHSA state singles championships at Naperville Central High School (440 W Aurora Ave) from 2000 to 2003, was named head women's tennis coach at the University of Illinois on Wednesday, June 17. UI Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced the hire.

Lumpkin Robinson, 40, agreed to a five-year contract, pending approval by the UI Board of Trustees at its July meeting. She replaces Evan Clark, who retired in late April after 11 seasons leading the Illini.

"Elizabeth is a proven winner with roots in our state as both a player and coach," Whitman said in the university's announcement. "She is arguably the most decorated prep player in Illinois history and later captained UCLA to the NCAA Championship."

Lumpkin Robinson remains the only girls' tennis player in Illinois to win four straight state titles. She was inducted into the inaugural class of the Redhawk Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013 and represented the United States on the Junior Fed Cup Team in 2002.

After Naperville Central, she played at UCLA from 2004 to 2008, going 24-1 in singles as team captain her senior year and leading the Bruins to their first NCAA national championship. She graduated magna cum laude with 101 career wins, still eighth in UCLA history.

Lumpkin Robinson then spent four years on the WTA and ITF pro circuits, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 443 in singles and No. 280 in doubles while winning six doubles titles and one singles crown.

Her coaching career began with eight years training elite junior players at Palm Valley and Indian Ridge Country Clubs in Palm Desert, California, before she joined the University of Oregon staff in 2017 as an assistant. She rose to associate head coach and helped the Ducks reach the NCAA Tournament in 2018 and 2022.

Hired as UIC's head coach on November 1, 2023, Lumpkin Robinson compiled a 41-24 dual-match record in three seasons, going 19-4 in Missouri Valley Conference play. She led the Flames to their first MVC Conference Tournament title in 2025, their first MVC regular-season championship in 2026, and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. She was named 2026 MVC Coach of the Year.

She is the ninth head coach in Illinois women's tennis program history. Her husband Jason, daughter Bailey, and son Cooper will remain in Illinois.

"Our family is thrilled to remain in our home state and for the opportunity to make history," Lumpkin Robinson said.