Urban Ljubic is in his fourth season with the Wisconsin men’s tennis program in 2024-25, serving as associate head coach alongside ninth-year head coach Danny Westerman. Ljubic came to Wisconsin to start the 2021-22 season after having served as associate head coach at Minnesota for 14 years.
In Ljubic's first season on staff in 2021-22, the Badgers posted a 12-10 overall record and a 6-2 clip in conference play, good for a third-place finish in the Big Ten.
A four-time ITA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year, Ljubic played an instrumental role in transforming the Minnesota program. A consistent winner with Ljubic on staff, the Gophers made 10 appearances in the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 three times.
In 2014-15, he helped Minnesota bring home the program’s first conference title in 20 years as the Gophers posted a 10-1 league record.
Before joining Minnesota’s staff, Ljubic spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams at the University of Denver, where he helped the Pioneer women’s squad make its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance.
The Ljubljana, Slovenia, native enjoyed a stellar playing career for the Pioneers, playing No. 1 singles for most of his career and earning first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors in 2002-03 after leading the Pioneers to a 16-10 overall record. Ljubic compiled a 43-34 career singles record despite battling injuries much of his senior season.
At Denver, Ljubic graduated with a bachelor’s degree in international business in 2004 before earning his MBA from Denver in June 2005. In 2011, Ljubic earned a master’s degree in human resources and industrial relations from Minnesota.
Head Coach Danny Westerman on Ljubic:
“I am incredibly excited to have Urban join me to help lead our men’s tennis program as our associate head coach. He brings an absolute wealth of experience and will help elevate our program immediately.
“I have known Urban a long time, all the way back when I started at Denver 15 years ago, and to see his evolution as a coach has been amazing. He was a big part of an amazing staff at Minnesota where they have had some incredible, sustained success.
“Urban understands the level of competition of the Big Ten, knows the type of student-athlete that can be successful here, and has the passion necessary to coach at this level. I cannot wait to get started with Urban to get our team back in the NCAA tournament and at the top of the Big Ten.”
