Purdue Northwest Athletics celebrated another outstanding year during the 2025–26 season. From record-breaking achievements to championship performances, PNW Athletics continued to raise the bar across. The Pride marked its 10th consecutive year with a department-wide GPA above 3.0 and reached historic milestones throughout the year, including conference championships, national tournament appearances, new program records, individual honors, and unprecedented support from alumni and donors.
Let's go inside the numbers:
1 Jersey Retired - Purdue Northwest honored former pitcher and current Milwaukee Brewer, Chad Patrick, with a jersey retirement.
1 Athlete Signed Professional Contract - PNW graduate and former D1 hockey goalie, Cooper Olson, signed a contract with the Indiana Sentinels, becoming the first hockey student-athlete in program history to earn a profession contract.
1 NCHL Regular Season Championship - D2 Hockey earned their first championship in program history taking the conference regular season title.
1 Coach of the Year - D2 Hockey Head Coach, Tom Pauly, earned the 2025-26 NCHL Coach of the Year after a tremendous season.
2 Track & Field GLIAC Champions - Lucas Bass, 2026 GLIAC Indoor Track & Field Long Jump Champion. Eli Baumann, 2026 GLIAC Outdoor Track & Field Javelin Throw Champion.
3 Consecutive ACHA National Tournament Appearances - The D1 Hockey team qualified for their third-straight national postseason berth in the 2025-26 season.
3rd - The Purdue Northwest Softball team finished third in the 2026 GLIAC Tournament after an incredible postseason run.
6th - The Purdue Northwest STUNT team ended the year nationally ranked #6, their highest ranking in program history.
9 Wins - In their inaugural season, the Purdue Northwest Women's Flag Football team finished with an overall 9-3 record
10 Straight Years - Purdue Northwest Athletics celebrated 10 consecutive years with a 3.0 GPA and above.
14 Wins - The Men's Basketball team earned 14 wins, most wins as a NCAA D2 program.
21 - Consecutive semesters over 3.0 GPA
22 - Most Teams in the History of PNW Athletics.
530 Student-Athletes - Most student-athletes in the history of PNW athletics.
1,557 – All-time record number of gifts on Day of Giving
$508,000 – Record high raised on Day of Giving
Now, let's take a look back and see more of the historic and record-breaking year:
Men's Soccer
Clinched spot in GLIAC Men's Soccer Tournament for fourth-straight season.
Women's Soccer
Clinched spot in GLIAC Women's Soccer Tournament for second-straight.
Volleyball
Clinched spot in GLIAC Tournament for third-straight season.
ACHA DI Hockey
Clinched spot in ACHA DI National Tournament for third-straight season.
Cooper Olson, signed professional contract with the Indiana Sentinels.
ACHA DII Hockey
2025-26 NCHL Regular Season Champions.
Tom Pauly, 2025-26 NCHL Coach of the Year.
Reached championship game of NCHL Tournament.
Qualified for ACHA D2 Hockey Regionals for first-time in program history.
Men's Basketball
14 wins, most as an NCAA D2 program
10 wins in GLIAC, most ever since joining the GLIAC.
Highest finish ever in GLIAC.
Clinched spot in GLIAC Men's Basketball Tournament.
STUNT
Most wins in program history.
2026 GLVC Tournament Runner-Up
Qualified for programs first appearance in the STUNT National Championships.
Finished sixth in National Championships.
Ended the year ranking #6 in national poll, highest ranking in program history.
Men's Indoor Track & Field
Lucas Bass - GLIAC Indoor Long Jump Champion.
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
Eli Baumann - GLIAC Outdoor Javelin Throw Champion, 2026 GLIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship Field Athlete of the Meet and High Point Athlete of the Meet, first PNW Track & Field student-athlete to receive these honors.
Men's Tennis
Reached third-straight GLIAC Tournament Semi-Finals.
Baseball
Clinched spot in GLIAC Tournament.
Drew Kosteba, 2026 GLIAC Baseball Freshman Player of the Year, first baseball freshman to earn this accolade.
Softball
30-win season.
Clinched spot in GLIAC Softball Tournament.
Finished third in GLIAC Softball Tournament.
Purdue Northwest Athletics commends the student-athletes and coaches for their outstanding season and record-breaking performances. Purdue University Northwest Athletics is excited to see what the future holds for the 2026-27 athletic year.
