The Purdue Northwest Athletic Department has announced the appointment of Courtney Locke as Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Initiatives.
"I am extremely grateful that Courtney Locke will be assuming this important role for Purdue Northwest athletics," said Director of Athletics, Rick Costello. "With the growth of PNW Athletics to 21 teams and 450 student-athletes, I am delighted Courtney will lead initiatives to enhance the student-athlete experience. While we will miss her coaching the Pride on the basketball court, I am excited for Courtney to bring her talents to the senior athletic administrative team and look forward to the impact she will have on the Pride of Purdue Northwest."
As the Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Initiatives, Locke will lead the annual student-athlete orientation and facilitate department-wide educational programming for student-athletes, coaches, and staff to include Bystander Intervention, Safe Zone, Hazing, Sexual Violence Prevention and Title IX training. Additionally, Locke will serve as liaison to University Housing, Counseling Center, Dean of Students Office and assist with team fundraising.
"First and foremost, I want to thank Rick Costello for the opportunity to serve as the Assistant AD for Strategic Initiatives at PNW," said Courtney Locke. "I'm so grateful for my 18-year career as a coach and appreciate all the players I was able to impact along the way. Basketball has shown me the world and it's been a phenomenal journey. I'm looking forward to being able to give my full attention and efforts to growing young people and creating a great experience for all student-athletes at PNW."
Locke served as the women's basketball head coach for the past five years and coached All-GLIAC First Team players, Dash Shaw(Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) and Mercedes Simmons (Crystal Falls, Mich./Forest Park). Her teams have also set many scoring and defensive records over the years and competed in the GLIAC Women's Basketball Tournament the past several seasons. This past season, she guided the squad to the programs most wins as an NCAA Division II program.
On April 12, 2019 Locke was named Head Coach of the Women's Basketball program.
Locke has experienced outstanding success as a coach, assisting four programs to conference titles and NCAA tournament appearances. Throughout her career, Locke has developed 24 all-conference players highlighted by WNBA forward Emma Cannon.
At UT-San Antonio, Locke assisted the Roadrunners to their most successful season in school history in 2007-08 en route to its first Southland Conference Tournament Championship. They also advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
In a pair of separate stints at Central Florida, Locke was instrumental in developing Briahanna Jackson, Conference USA Freshman of the Year, who broke the school record for most steals in a single season.
She also helped lead UCF to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2009 and 2011 as well as two Conference USA Tournament Championships.
During her time at UC-Santa Barbara, Locke assisted the Gauchos to the 2012 Big West Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.
As an Associate Head Coach for Lipscomb University, Locke assisted in the development of two All-Conference players, one All-Freshman team member, six all-academic team members, one ASUN Scholar Athlete of the Year and a Nancy Lieberman Award Preseason Watch List member.
Locke was a four-year letter winner under legendary head coach C. Vivian Stringer at Rutgers University from 2002-2006. She helped lead the Scarlet Knights to a pair of Big East regular season Championships, four NCAA Tournament appearances, an Elite Eight appearance in 2005 and Sweet Sixteen showing in 2006.
