He almost left coaching, which is why new NIU women’s tennis coach Ryun Ferrell said becoming a Huskie was meant to be.

“I love what they’re doing here,” Ferrell said. “Jim Phillips is really impressive, and I love the direction he’s taking with the athletic department here at NIU.”

NIU men’s tennis coach Pontus Hiort coached both tennis teams for the past two seasons after former women’s coach Laura Scott left after the 2004 season.

Ferrell comes to NIU after spending seven seasons as Drake University’s head coach, and said he wants to make one thing clear.

“I’m here and I’m not going anywhere because I’ve got a job to do,” Ferrell said. “I’m going to recruit players so that we can show everyone what NIU is all about.”

However, Ferrell knows that turning around the 2006 NIU women’s tennis team that went 5-19 overall and 0-8 in the MAC won’t be an easy task.

Drake beat NIU 6-1 on Feb. 18 before NIU ended its regular season on a 12-game losing streak.

The 33-year-old said having patience will be huge on his part.

Ferrell said his first goal for a team that returns all of its players is to have no drama.

“I want the girls to do their job and keep it simple,” Ferrell said. “Our [final] goal is to win the MAC. When you get to the [conference] tourney, anything can happen.”

Ferrell said he has had time to evaluate NIU’s tennis facilities. He noted NIU has a better outdoor court than Drake, but Drake had its own six-court indoor facility while NIU has none to speak of.

“Fundraising at Drake was a nightmare,” Ferrell said. “It should be easier to find people who want to help put NIU tennis on the map because there’s not as much to compete with here.”

Ferrell’s teams at Drake won the Missouri Valley Conference title in 2000, and tied for the regular season title in 2005.

In leading his Drake teams to an 81-76 mark, Ferrell also recorded an all-time MVC record of 51-19 after being an assistant coach at Wichita State from 1997-99.

“We are thoroughly pleased to have an experienced coach like Ryun Ferrell leave a successful program to join our staff,” NIU Athletics Director Jim Phillips said.

Interestingly enough, Ferrell got his coaching feet wet as a volunteer assistant coach at Kansas University under former NIU tennis coach Chuck Merzbacher.

“Coming to NIU was more a matter of coincidence,” Ferrell said. “Chuck was under a whole different regime at NIU then. Now, NIU is a totally different program.”

Ferrell’s fresh start at NIU also comes with the birth of his first child, who was born on March 18.

“The neat thing is that it helps me keep perspective,” Ferrell said. “I can go home from my job and forget about it, and that’s the great thing about having a family. But it’s been tough trying to move them.”