HAMMOND, Ind. — Head coach Austin Warner resigned from his position after five years leading the Purdue Northwest Men's and Women's Cross Country teams and shaping the newly-formed Men's and Women's Track & Field programs. After a successful run at PNW, Warner has accepted the Head Track & Field Coach position at University of Chicago Laboratory School.

Effective immediately, PNW Associate Head Track & Field Coach Tommy Whittaker will serve as Interim Head Coach for both the men's and women's cross country and track & field programs while a coaching search is conducted.

"On behalf of the PNW Pride, I sincerely appreciate Austin Warner's leadership over the past five years during the amazing growth of our Athletic Department," said Director of Athletics Rick Costello. "Austin has worked extremely hard to elevate our Men's and Women's Cross Country programs at the NCAA Division II level, in addition to launching the start of PNW Men's and Women's Track & Field teams over the past year. I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors."

Warner helped guide the PNW cross country teams' transition from NAIA to the NCAA Division II level after he was named to his first head coaching position in 2016. That followed a three-year stint as an assistant at Division II Nova Southeastern where he was named South Region Assistant Coach of the Year. During his tenure, PNW runners consistently improved and set both individual and team records every year, as well as earning USTFCCAA All-Academic team and individual awards. Warner helped lead PNW's efforts in hosting the 2019 GLIAC Cross Country Championships, as well as planning the annual PNW Cross Country Classic.

Last fall, PNW Women's Cross Country's entire lineup set new personal-best times at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship, led by Christina Shaginaw's (Hobart, Ind./Hobart HS) school record in the 6K event. PNW Men's Cross Country also recorded a new team record at the Midwest Regional, led by Antonio Chapa's (Portage, Ind./Portage) school record in the 10K race.

"I would like to thank Chancellor Keon and Director of Athletics Rick Costello for giving me the opportunity to return to Northwest Indiana and lead the cross country/track and field programs at Purdue Northwest. It has been an incredible five years working with some amazing student-athletes, coaches and staff who have given me so much joy during my tenure. This was an extremely difficult decision for me. Coach Whittaker and myself have worked tirelessly over this past year to build the new track and field programs, and I am excited to see what is on the horizon for PNW. I wish nothing but Purdue Northwest the very best as this university will always have a special place in my heart."

PNW Athletics will enter its sixth season as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the upcoming 2022-23 school year.

About Purdue University Northwest
Part of the internationally respected Purdue University system, Purdue University Northwest offers world-class educational opportunities at an excellent value on two culturally diverse, student-centered campuses, located in Northwest Indiana and in close proximity to Chicago. Purdue Northwest has approximately 6,000 students and offers more than 70-degree programs at the baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral levels. Purdue Northwest Athletics consists of 350 student athletes and 20 sports and is a member of NCAA Division II and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Intercollegiate athletic teams are fielded in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, esports, men's and women's golf, men's ice hockey, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track & field, softball, and women's volleyball. Purdue Northwest has recently developed new ice hockey, baseball, basketball, esports, softball, soccer, and tennis facilities. PNW sits between Chicago's skyscrapers and Lake Michigan's sandy shores. You can have all the perks of a world-class city just a short drive away or enjoy the natural beauty of the Indiana Dunes National Park and Lake Michigan just 15 miles away.

For more information on the Purdue University Northwest athletics program please go to PNWathletics.com