Squash scores new coach, new status

Author: Matt Ferrer

Eleven NESCAC schools≠, 21 NESCAC varsity squash teams-that is what the landscape of NESCAC squash looked like until this year. Middlebury was the only school in its conference that had a women's varsity squash program but not a men's one.

"It was an anomaly," said Middlebury Athletic Director Erin Quinn. "It simply did not make sense."

This winter, however, things have changed. With funding from various endowments, the 2007-2008 Middlebury men's squash team has officially gone varsity. And, according to co-captain Will Carroll '07.5, there is already a noticeable difference from its days as a club program.

While the men's team used to play matches against varsity opponents, those matches meant little. Now they can look forward to competing for NESCAC championships on both team and individual levels.

Newly hired, full-time head coach John Illig takes over the reins for the Panthers. Having spent 11 years building the Bates squash program into a top-10 collegiate powerhouse, and five years before that coaching at Colby, Illig brings with him a wealth of coaching experience and squash knowledge. When asked what prompted him to leave a prominent program at Bates in order to come to Middlebury, Illig mentioned some of the very same reasons that draw students here.

"The landscape here is stunning," said Illig. "I love the outdoors, I love the Adirondacks and I love hiking."

More than the scenery however, Illig noted that Middlebury's potential drew him to the school. He emphasized that although Bates had become a great squash school, Middlebury could be even better.

"The school pretty much recruits itself," said Illig, who already expects a strong recruiting class for the 2008-2009 season.

Having a full-time coach who can commit 100 percent to squash is something new for the men's team, and something that can only help. Many former players, as well as Illig himself, credit former coach Dave Schwarz (the head coach of the men's tennis team) for doing an outstanding job building a solid base for the program. But even Schwarz himself acknowledges that the opportunity to have one of the best squash coaches in the country rather than a tennis coach will enhance the team.

And make no mistake about it, Illig is a premier squash coach. Quinn, who will admit to his limited squash knowledge, said that when Middlebury opened up the head coaching position, "Illig was one of the few coaches I had actually heard of. And when he applied for the job, we were ecstatic to have him."

The players seem ecstatic to have him as well.

"Coach Illig is great," said first-year Brian Cady. "He really knows how to coach a men's squash team. He knows how to get the team excited and keep practice both intense and enjoyable."

"Practices have already been more organized and have included a greater variety of drills," said Carroll. "The guys on the team are generally more excited."

Just from watching one practice, it was clear that there was a heightened intensity, and it stemmed directly from the intensity of the coach. At the very first practice of the year, Illig emphasized the importance of staying in the point, never giving up and fighting for every ball.

"We're really going to get it going now," said Illig at one point during the practice before he sent his players off to compete against one another. And the players responded accordingly.

Aside from the benefits of an experienced and energized coach, the team has a few other things to look forward to as a varsity squad. Instead of practicing three days a week, it now practices six. Instead of having to play from 6:30-8 p.m. after the women, the men and women now alternate between 4:30 or 6:30 p.m. practice times. Rather than buying their equipment at retail price, the men will get racquets and shoes at wholesale prices from companies like Harrow. And, when you get out to a match, expect to see the men decked out in their dashing new uniforms.

According to Carroll and Illig, fans can also expect to see a rather talented group of squash players.

"Our number-one player [J.P. Sardi '09] can play with just about anyone in New England," said Carroll, "and the talent gap between him and our number nine player is closing fast."

Furthermore, Carroll believes the talent level will get even higher with Illig at the helm.

"Whereas in the past we have benefited from typical Middlebury athletes that may or may not have played squash in high school but nonetheless like to compete, we will now have the ability to recruit premier squash players from top-level programs," said Carroll.

Illig feels the same way. While he is excited about the talent that he gets to work with this year, he expects to eventually be on par with national powerhouses like Harvard, Princeton and Trinity. However, he makes it very clear that in order to achieve that goal the program will need two things - a new squash facility and a more diverse recruiting base.

"What this program needs," said Illig, "is a new 10-court facility within a year or two and the ability to recruit internationally-ranked players from all over the world."

And while the recruiting task is something Illig can tackle himself, the construction of a new facility is a bit more complicated. Quinn noted that building a new facility is not simply a matter of having the funding.

"The construction of a new squash facility has to be a part of the school's Master Plan," said Quinn. And though the College recognizes that the current set-up of five courts within the confines of The Bubble is not a good long-term solution, there is currently no concrete plan for a new facility. However, a new facility is "up for discussion," according to Quinn.

Even though the Middlebury's men's squash program has officially gone varsity and hired one of the country's elite coaches, there is still work to be done to bring the program to even greater heights - heights that the players, Illig and Erin Quinn all expect will ultimately be reached.