JOLIET – Jim Trudeau, a staple in the local tennis community for decades who served 13 seasons as a head tennis coach at University of St. Francis, died at his home early Thursday morning.

Trudeau, 71, spent 11 seasons as USF's head men's tennis coach from 2003-10 and 2011-15, compiling a 127-115 record. He then led the Saints' women's program to a 22-19 mark in 2014-15, 2016-17 and the fall of this season.

Among his many honors, Trudeau was recognized as the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Tennis Coach of the Year in 2015.

"We have lost an excellent tennis coach and a quality human being in coach Trudeau," USF director of athletics Dave Laketa said. "Jim's love for tennis and his love for our program and the student-athletes that he recruited was incredible. Without a doubt, he bled brown and gold and we are forever grateful for what he did for both of our programs."

In addition to his coaching duties at St. Francis, Trudeau served as an adjunct mathematics instructor at the university from 2003 until the end of the fall 2011 semester.

Prior to his time at USF, Trudeau was a tennis coach and mathematics teacher at Homewood-Flossmoor High School for 33 years. He was a two-time Illinois High School Tennis Coaches Association (IHSTCA) Girls Coach of the Year (1988 and 1989) before being inducted into the IHSTCA Hall of Fame in 1996. In his time with the Vikings, he produced a state championship (1989), a runnerup finish (1988) and three third-place finishes (1990, 1991, 1994) in addition to numerous conference titles.

Off the court, he was involved in promoting tennis in many ways. He was a prominent figure in the IHSTCA as a board member from 1988-2000, its secretary from 1992-2000 and as chair of the hall of fame, girls all-state and membership committees. He also served on the IHSA's Tennis Advisory Committee from 1994-97.

Outside of coaching at the high school and collegiate levels, Trudeau was involved in all levels of tennis as the director of the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District co-ed summer tennis camp from 1992-2002 and as a teaching professional at the Holiday Tennis Club (1982-84), Flossmoor Country Club (1973-76) and Homewood-Flossmoor Indoor Racket Club (1973-75).

A United States Tennis Association member since 1981, Trudeau was ranked among the top senior players in the Midwest for many years and was a developmental coach for the United States Professional Tennis Association since 2002.

Trudeau, who lived in New Lenox, is survived by his wife Bonnie, daughter Collette and granddaughter Cara.

"We are most grateful to Jim's family, especially his wife Bonnie, for sharing Jim with us," Laketa added. "We extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to each of them.

"We were the lucky ones and our student-athletes learned so much from him both on and off the court. The knowledge they gained from him was priceless and something that will guide them the rest of their lives."

Visitation will be from 3 until 8 p.m. Monday at Kurtz Memorial Chapel in New Lenox. Funeral services are scheduled at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Jude Catholic Church in New Lenox.