Eric Perez, who guided the Illinois Valley Community College men's tennis team to four successive NJCAA Championship tournament appearances, is in his first season as head men's tennis coach at Lewis University.

Illinois Valley garnered a top-25 national ranking in each of Perez's four seasons, including a high mark of No. 18 in 2003. The Apaches won two regional titles and posted records of 36-13 overall and 21-2 in the region during his tenure, including a 17-0 region ledger the past three seasons.

Perez twice was named NJCAA Region IV Coach of the Year. He also registered a 9-3 record in two seasons as IVCC's head women's tennis coach.

Perez also is a tennis instructor at Lockport Fitness Forum.