Chuck Merzbacher begins a new chapter in his success-oriented tennis career as he becomes NIU’s 24th head men’s tennis coach.

Fresh from the professional playing ranks, Merzbacher was named Huskie men’s tennis boss by NIU Athletic Director Gerald O’Dell. Merzbacher, whose appointment is subject to formal approval by the school’s Board of Regents, succeeds Carl Neufeld, who resigned to become assistant men’s tennis coach at the University of Southern California.

The 24-year-old native of Findlay, OH, has served as the playing and teaching pro for that city’s YMCA Racquet Center and the Northridge Tennis and Swim Club for the past three years. A quarterfinalist in the 1989 Vienna (Austria) Airport Cup, Merzbacher’s Grand Slam tourney appearances include this summer’s Wimbledon qualifier and the Australian Open. He was ranked as high as 354 in singles and 335 in doubles by the Association of Tennis Professionals.

“We’ll work toward a winning program that’s geared to balancing success in both athletics and academics,” Merzbacher said. “I really believe in that. I think my experience as a player will enable me to teach kids what it takes to excel.

“We’re looking for team players, because we’ll succeed together by being the most mentally and physically-prepared team both on and off the court. I’d like to be one of the top teams in the region. That’s the first step, ultimately, we’ll expect to compete nationally.”

A 1987 University of Minnesota graduate, Merzbacher boasts the Golden Gopher record for all-time career victories with 137. The Class AAA Ohio High School 1983 singles champ won the Big Ten No. 4 singles title in his first collegiate season when the Golden Gophers qualified for NCAA Championship play.