When you look at all the great Championship teams from the Pro level all the way down to the Little Leagues, it’s easy to wonder how such great teams evolve.  Yes, the players have a big influence on making a team come together but the “X factors” we don’t always see could be even bigger. 

The 2003 University of Illinois tennis team went an undefeated 32-0 on their way to winning their first National Championship for the school.  Looking back on that year and seeing the players and coaches of the team, you can see other attributes that played a key role in the 2003 Championship team.  Below are a few of the attributes that played an influence in creating one of the greatest college tennis teams in history. 

Team Chemistry:  If you ask anyone in college tennis that knew the players from the Illinois team, they will tell you what a fun/great group of guys. Of course they had their rivals who may not say the same but none the less, I never saw this team have a bad practice.  Guys would always push themselves to the brink of exhaustion everyday knowing that if someone wasn’t working their absolute hardest, another guys one the team would take over their position. Everyone on the team got along with each other and nobody was out to bring someone down.  Every player on the team was from the U.S. which helped created a bond.  This bond was so deep that the players considered themselves their own family.  It’s easy to leave everything out on the court when you best friends are your teammates.  This is a great factor in creating a team that will go out there everyday and strive to get better.

Great leadership:  The players of the Illini will tell you that their coach, Craig Tiley was a magician.  He was very specific in what he wanted to achieve and accomplish but he also was a mastermind in leading a group of very talented tennis players and making sure all of them were happy.  This not only consists of playing time but everyone on this Championship team wanted to continue on and become a pro.  With a pro mentality by the players, Craig did not spoon-feed his players and show them the golden path.  Every player had to figure things out on his own, and Craig was there to assist in the process.  He knew that to be a champion you have to work at it yourself and not let someone else tell you and do the work for you.  So Craig has to manage the development of each player and make sure every player was getting one on one time.  The Illini team was fortunate enough to have Bruce Berque as their assistant who was a perfect mesh for Craig.  Craig was a players coach: all the guys loved Craig and Craig made sure everyone was happy.  Bruce was a straight shooter, who told you straight up what he thinks and feels.  I know many guys on that team budded heads with Bruce at the start but I can tell you know that everyone on that Championship team as the utmost respect for Bruce.  Without this combination, I don’t believe this team would have evolved into the caliber team it did. 

Attention to Details:  A key element into making a championship team that people never see.  This Illinois team had the smallest details finely tuned to maximize their chance while performing.  I remember seeing the entourage that traveled with this team:  players, coaches, trainers, massage therapist, hydration specialist.  The professionals that surrounded the players ultimately made the players act/play like professionals.  It was clear to spectators that the University of Illinois tennis team was better prepared, and worked harder at the finer things so when the big national stage came on them, they were fully ready and willing to take what was rightfully theirs.  They put too much work into the little things to make every player on that team, feel like they truly deserve the National title.  They were professional athletes on a college team. 

Every championship team you see in the paper has a story behind how they found success at the highest level.  These elements: chemistry, leadership and attention to detail were just a few of the many puzzle pieces that came together for the University of Illinois Men’s Tennis team in 2003 when they went 32-0 on their way to their first NCAA Title.