Purdue Northwest Athletics has announced Natalie Hornbuckle as the inaugural Head Coach of the Women's Ice Hockey program. Hornbuckle brings an extensive background in coaching, leadership, and competitive success that will serve as a strong foundation as PNW launches its newest varsity sport in Fall 2026.
"Natalie Hornbuckle is a rising star in the world of collegiate hockey," said Rick Costello, Director of Athletics at Purdue Northwest. "She has a clear vision for building a competitive, student-athlete-focused program from the ground up, and her leadership experience and passion for the game make her the ideal coach to lead Purdue Northwest into this exciting new era. We are thrilled to welcome her to the PNW family and look forward to Coach Hornbuckle recruiting outstanding student-athletes as we launch Women's Ice Hockey in the 2026-27 academic year."
Hornbuckle arrives at Purdue Northwest after serving as the Head Coach of the ACHA Division II Women's Ice Hockey program at Miami University (Ohio) since 2020. In her four-year tenure, she guided the team into the Central Collegiate Women's Hockey Association (CCWHA) beginning with the 2022–2023 season. Under her leadership, the program qualified for the playoffs for the first time during the 2023–2024 campaign. In 2024-2025, Hornbuckle led Miami to a Top 10 Central Region ranking finishing with a 10-7-1 record in a highly-competitive region in ACHA DII Women's Hockey.
Hornbuckle is no stranger to success on the ice as a player. She competed at the ACHA Division I level with Miami University from 2015 to 2019, where she helped the team capture two national championships and four consecutive Final Four appearances. She served as an alternate captain during her senior season and held leadership roles off the ice as the team's Vice President from 2017 to 2019.
"I'm incredibly honored to be named the first women's hockey coach at Purdue Northwest," said Hornbuckle. "This is an exciting opportunity to build something special from the ground up, and I'm thrilled to be part of a university that's committed to growing women's athletics. I can't wait to get started and begin shaping a program that the students, the university, and the community can be proud of."
Before college, she played AAA hockey with the Chicago Fury from 2012 to 2015, serving as an alternate captain during her final season.
Prior to her head coaching role, Hornbuckle served as an assistant coach with Miami Youth Hockey from 2018 to 2020, helping guide the team to six tournament championships, including a league title during the 2019–2020 season. She focused on defensive development and special teams, laying the groundwork for strong fundamentals and strategic play.
From 2012 to 2017, Hornbuckle served as a senior instructor at the Greg Carter European Hockey School, where she led on-ice skill development for up to 50 players at a time. Her work emphasized individual growth in stride, agility, puck control, and positional awareness, using the CARTER method (Control, Agility, Reflex, Technique, Edge, Retention). She also managed a team of six instructors during the camp's six-week sessions.
Hornbuckle holds a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Miami University and earned her MBA from Grand Canyon University in 2022.
About Women's Ice Hockey at Purdue University Northwest
Women's Ice Hockey will join Purdue Northwest's hockey programs, including DI and DII Men's Ice Hockey, during the 2026-27 school year. Since the inception of Ice Hockey at PNW in 2019, the Pride have experienced remarkable growth on the ice, achieving record-breaking seasons for both men's programs. Highlights include the 2024 Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League Tournament Championship and an Elite Eight finish in the 2024 American Collegiate Hockey Association DI National Tournament.
"I am thrilled to launch Women's Ice Hockey at Purdue Northwest," Director of Athletics Rick Costello said. "This is a wonderful addition to the array of sport offerings at PNW and will create plenty of excitement for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and the Northwest Indiana community. Most importantly, Women's Ice Hockey will expand athletic participation opportunities for female student-athletes."
"The addition of a women's hockey program is an incredible opportunity to grow the sport and provide more student-athletes with a chance to compete at a high level," said Director of Hockey Operations and DI Head Coach Carl Trosien. "I've seen firsthand the positive impact hockey has on student-athletes, both and off the ice. Expanding our program to include women's hockey aligns with our commitment to equity, student-athlete development, and the continued growth of hockey within our community."
The Pride will kick off their inaugural Women's Ice Hockey season in Fall 2026. The new women's team will join the men's teams at The Kube in Hammond, Indiana, which currently serves as the home rink for all Purdue Northwest hockey programs.
