Purdue Northwest Director of Athletics Rick Costello has announced the hiring of Chris Vincent as the next head coach of the women's basketball program.
"I am excited to welcome Chris Vincent to Purdue Northwest to lead our women's basketball program," said Costello. "Chris is a rising star in the coaching profession and has demonstrated the ability to build and elevate programs at an elite level. His track record of success, player development, and commitment to excellence makes him the ideal leader for our student-athletes. We are confident he will have an immediate and lasting impact on our women's basketball program both on and off the court."
Vincent arrives at Purdue Northwest following a highly successful two-year stint at Langston University, where he served as head women's basketball coach. In his time leading the program, Vincent compiled an outstanding 55-9 overall record, including a 31-3 regular season mark in his first season, while guiding Langston to back-to-back SAC Conference regular season and a tournament championship in 2024-25. In those two years, his program qualified for the NAIA National Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 in the 2024-25 campaign.
Under Vincent's leadership, Langston rose to as high as No. 10 nationally and established itself as one of the premier defensive teams in the country, allowing just 48.7 points per game, ranking No. 1 nationally. His program also produced an All-American in Mikayla Woods, multiple all-conference selections, and conference award winners including Defensive Player of the Year honors.
"First and foremost, I am excited and truly honored to lead the Purdue Northwest women's basketball program and represent this outstanding university," said Vincent. "The clear vision, unwavering support, and family atmosphere shown by Athletic Director Rick Costello, Chancellor Chris Holford, and the entire athletic administration made this decision an easy one for my wife, Susan, and me. We are proud to call PNW and the Chicagoland area our home, and we are grateful for your trust and belief in what we're building together. To the PNW community, it is a privilege to represent you, and we are committed to making you proud."
Prior to his time as head women's coach, Vincent played a pivotal role in transforming Langston's men's basketball program as associate head coach from 2022-24. Taking over a team that finished 1-27 the previous season, Vincent helped engineer one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college basketball history, culminating in a 31-3 record, a Sweet 16 appearance, and a 2024 NAIA National Runner-Up finish with a 35-2 record. Over a two-year span, the program posted a combined 66-5 record and consistently ranked among the top teams in the nation.
Vincent was also in the Ivy League ranks for three years as Yale's Director of Basketball Operations under one the best coaches in the country in James Jones. The Bulldogs made the 2016 NCAA Tournament, where they knocked off No. 3-seed Baylor and finished 23-7 (13-1 in conference play) before losing to Duke 71-64 to head to the Sweet 16. During this time Yale produced multiple professionals in the NBA, most notable Miye Oni of the Utah Jazz, along with G-League and Ivy League players of the year. During his final season at Yale, he was an assistant coach at the 2018 Final Four in San Antonio for the Reese's All-Star Game.
Additionally, Vincent served as an assistant video coordinator and assistant to the head coach for the WNBA's Connecticut Sun in 2012 for Mike Thibault, the all-time winningest coach in the WNBA. While with the Sun he broke down opponent's film and tendencies, and created and developed game plans, practice plans and player evaluations. Vincent also conducted individual workouts with the Sun players, and assisted in formulating scouting reports. The Connecticut Sun made the Eastern Conference Finals during this time.
Vincent's coaching résumé also includes stops at the University of Fort Lauderdale, University of Southern Miss, Miami Dade College, and the University of Delaware.
Vincent earned his degree in sports management from Springfield College (Mass.) in 2013.
Vincent brings with him 14 years of college basketball experience that includes NCAA Division I,II,III, NAIA, and NJCAA experience with two NCAA Tournament appearances, NAIA Sweet 16, and NCCAA Sweet 16, along with a tremendous track record of proven recruiting success.
What They Are Saying
Donnita Drain-Rodgers - Langston University, Director of Athletics
"We recognized Coach Vincent's leadership potential while serving as the associate head coach on the men's side of our basketball program for two seasons, and that continued when he began to serve as our women's head coach. Coach Vincent's passion for the sport of women's basketball, recruiting expertise and the ability to quickly develop a winning culture are just a few reasons why he stood out when we were looking to fill our head women's position in Spring 2024. His basketball IQ, recruiting expertise and leadership skills have been on full display these past two seasons leading the Lady Lions. He's left his mark on the Lady Lions program in his short time here. We wish him well in all his future endeavors, and I'm looking forward to seeing him continue to blossom for years to come."
Scott Drew - Baylor Men's Basketball Head Coach
"I've known Chris for a long time and one thing stays the same, he wins on and off the court. The character he brings, the way he prepares, the way he carries himself, it doesn't surprise me the success he's had. Purdue Northwest is in good hands."
James Jones - Yale Men's Basketball Head Coach
"Chris is a hard working, dedicated mentor who will quickly implement his style on the Purdue Northwest Women's Basketball program and the entire Purdue Community. They've found a winner!"
Chris Wright - Alabama State Head Men's Basketball Coach
"Chris Vincent is a tremendous coach, a great recruiter, and an outstanding leader. He loves his players and impacts their lives off the court. Purdue Northwest hit a home run with this hire!"
About Purdue Northwest Athletics
PNW Athletics consists of 530 student athletes with 23 sports and is a current member of NCAA Division II and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). 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 and women's ice hockey, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track & field, softball, STUNT, women's flag football and women's volleyball. Over 530 student-athletes train and compete in the Fitness and Recreation Center on the Hammond campus. PNW has secured 20 total championships since moving to NCAA Division II in 2016-17. Academically, PNW student-athletes have achieved 20 consecutive semesters, 10 straight years, of academic excellence with a combined GPA of 3.0 or above as of fall 2025.
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