The UIS athletic department has named Henrique Leal as the new head coach of the men's and women's tennis programs. Leal comes to UIS after coaching stints at Averett University and Catawba College, bringing experience as both a student-athlete and collegiate assistant coach.
"I am incredibly honored to step into this role at UIS and lead the tennis program. I'm excited to get started and build something our athletes, UIS, and the Springfield community can be proud of," said Leal. "My goal is to establish a culture of excellence that extends beyond competition. There is tremendous potential within these programs, and every day is a chance to raise the standard and grow as a team. Success starts with hard work and accountability, but it also means developing character and integrity in every part of our student-athletes' lives. By holding ourselves to these high standards on and off the courts, we set the foundation for a program that's both competitive and respected. I really appreciate Mike Hermann for this opportunity and I cannot wait to get this new era of UIS tennis started. Go Stars!"
Most recently, Leal served as the assistant men's and women's tennis coach at Averett University in Virginia. There, he assisted with all aspects of running a competitive NCAA Division III program, including planning practices and matches, recruiting, and supporting international student-athletes. During his tenure, Averett's women's team achieved its first-ever ITA national ranking and its highest regional ranking in program history.
Prior to Averett, Leal spent a season as an assistant coach at Catawba College, where he helped guide the women's team to their first-ever ITA Division II national ranking. In addition to on-court coaching, he was involved in team operations, recruiting, and fundraising initiatives.
"Henrique impressed our committee with his vision for the program and passion for coaching tennis." said director of athletics Mike Hermann. "I'm confident that he will connect quickly with our current team members and make an impact at UIS. Plus, he's a tireless recruiter who will work to bring outstanding student-athletes to the UIS tennis programs. We have a bright future in tennis."
Leal played collegiately at both Belmont Abbey College and Catawba College. He earned a bachelor's degree in sport management from Belmont Abbey, where he also minored in marketing, before completing a master's in sport management at Catawba. Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Leal now takes the helm of the Prairie Stars program with a strong foundation as both a player and coach.
Leal assumes the head coaching position after Ross Graham's three seasons as interim head coach.
"I want to thank Ross Graham for serving as interim head coach of the men's and women's programs," said Hermann. "He may have saved the sport at UIS through his coaching during a long transition. I'm grateful for his leadership and commitment."
Elina Ivanova
Joining Coach Leal on staff will be new assistant coach Elina Ivanova.
Ivanova, a 2025 graduate of the University of Findlay, was a three-time All-Great Midwest Athletic Conference selection in women's tennis. She earned first-team honors in 2023 and 2025, and second-team honors in 2024. She helped lead the Oilers to a 19-4 record in her senior season, including a perfect 9-0 record in conference play.
A native of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Ivanova will pursue a master's degree in data analytics at UIS.
UIS tennis will soon return to campus and begin preparing for its fall competition slate.
What They're Saying
"I was very fortunate to have Henrique as my assistant coach at Averett University for the past two seasons. Henrique's passion for Averett tennis was evident to all of us and he played a major role in the success of our men's and women's programs. In Henrique Leal, UIS is getting a coach who is a great communicator, a great competitor, has a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. He's a winner, and I'm excited to follow his progress in the upcoming seasons." -Bert Poole, Head Men's & Women's Tennis Coach, Averett University"Henrique is going to be an incredible addition to the University of Illinois Springfield. He will undoubtedly make a remarkable impact in not only the conference but in the lives of the kids he leads. I'm excited to watch him elevate the level of the program in the years to come." -Mic Moore, Head Men's & Women's Tennis Coach, Catawba College