Recently hired mens head tennis coach Pawel Gajdzik is focused and ready to take NIU to new heights. Gajdzik was hired in July as the tenth men’s tennis coach in NIU history.

He believes this is going to be a rebuilding year, but the team’s goals include winning the MAC championship and advancing to the NCAA tournament.

“These are very obtainable goals,” Gajdzik said.

He also wants to build the program up to a championship level.

“I want to make this program nationally ranked and a powerhouse in the MAC,” Gajdzik said. “It depends on the recruits you get and the players you have.”

He knows that the program might not shoot straight to the top right off the bat (or racket), but he believes that it will be done.

“I know what it takes to turn it around as a player and as a coach,” Gajdzik said.

Last season, the Huskies fell just short in the MAC semifinals 4-3 against No. 1 seeded Western Michigan.

On Friday, Gajdzik held tryouts at the Huskie Tennis Courts and he believes there was a positive response.

“There were six or seven tryouts and we are still in the process of evaluating them. Hopefully we can make a decision soon,” Gajdzik said. He was very surprised by the turnout, he said, because of the little time given to advertise the event.

Gajdzik is experienced both as a player and as a coach. He played on the Polish Junior National Tennis Team from 1989-1997. In 1997, Gajdzik joined the Baylor Bears and made an instant impact. He was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and won the Big 12 championship at No. 3 singles in 1998. In his final season in 2000, Gajdzik won the Big 12 championship at No. 2 doubles with teammate Johann Jooste.

His career at Baylor concluded in 2000 with a 74-34 record and the highest singles winning percentage in school history at .685.

After his stay at Baylor, Gajdzik landed a job as tennis professional at Walnut Creek Country Club in Mansfield, Texas. He coached a USTA Junior Team and guided them to a Texas state championship and a National tournament berth.

In 2002, Gajdzik joined the Baylor staff as a volunteer assistant coach. During his tenure from 2002-2008, Baylor won the 2004 National championship, finished se in 2005 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in all seven seasons. Gajdzik also coached the 2004 NCAA singles champion Benjamin Becker and 2005 singles champion Benedikt Dorsch.

In his experiences traveling the world, Gajdzik has gained the opportunity to work with different types of players and associations, whether they be international or American.

“I have connections with former players that I’ve played with and players that I’ve played against,” Gajdzik said. “I also know different types of associations that could help us find players to fit the program.”

He also wants the community to play a part in the program’s turnaround.

“I’m hoping to get the students and community involved,” Gajdzik said.

NIU opens up its season on Sept. 19 at the Drake Invitational in Des Moines, Iowa.