QUINCY, Ill. – Quincy University has announced the hiring of Quincy native Timmer Willing as the new head coach of the Hawks' men's and women's tennis programs.

Willing returns to his hometown with more than three decades of collegiate coaching experience, including 25 years at the University of California San Diego and 14 seasons as the Tritons' head men's tennis coach.

A 1986 graduate of Quincy High School, Willing takes over the Quincy University programs after serving as the head men's tennis coach at UC San Diego from 2012-26. During his tenure, he guided the Tritons through both the NCAA Division II and Division I levels, compiling 131 victories and leading UC San Diego to six NCAA Division II Tournament appearances.

Willing's first season at the helm resulted in a run to the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals in 2013. The Tritons later advanced to the Round of 16 in 2016 and consistently found themselves among the nation's top programs, climbing as high as No. 11 nationally in 2014 and finishing inside the top 16 in three consecutive seasons from 2014-16.

UC San Diego was in the midst of another standout season in 2020, opening the year with a 9-4 record and rising as high as No. 7 in the national rankings. The Tritons went 3-0 against nationally ranked top-10 opponents before the remainder of the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Willing then helped guide UC San Diego through its transition to NCAA Division I and the Big West Conference beginning with the 2020-21 season. The Tritons earned their first Division I and Big West Conference victories in 2022 and continued to progress at the highest level of collegiate tennis, reaching the Big West Championship semifinals in 2025 and the quarterfinals in 2026.

On the women's side, UC San Diego captured seven consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association championships from 2004-10.

Willing's work was recognized nationally in 2011 when he was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Assistant Coach of the Year after helping the UC San Diego men's program post a perfect 20-0 dual record. He also earned ITA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year honors multiple times during his tenure.

Prior to his time in San Diego, Willing served as an assistant men's tennis coach at Indiana University from 1994-96 and assisted the men's and women's programs at Truman State University from 1991-93. He has also worked extensively as a tennis professional and fitness trainer, including experience training professional tour players.

Willing began his collegiate playing career at Truman State, competing at No. 1 singles and doubles from 1986-90. He earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science from Truman State in 1993 before completing his master's degree in teaching from the University of San Diego in 2009.

The hiring also represents a homecoming for Willing, who comes from a longtime Quincy tennis family that includes Todd Willing and former Quincy University interim head coach Zach Willing. After spending much of his coaching career on the West Coast, Willing returns to the community where his own tennis career began.

Willing will begin his first season leading the Quincy University men's and women's tennis programs during the 2026-27 academic year.