John Friend was named Director of Athletics Emeritus in November 2017 at Purdue University Northwest. Friend is also in his 11th year as a consultant and chief fundraiser for the Purdue University Northwest athletic department, a position he began in 2007 after an illustrious career as the school’s athletic director.Â
On November 16, 2017, Purdue University Northwest held a special tribute to John Friend as the Athletics Department named the Fitness and Recreation Center's court as the "John Friend Court"
Friend served as Purdue University Calumet's Director of Athletics for 20 years prior to his retirement in 2001, and then held interim AD titles in both 2007 and 2011.Â
He played a pivotal role in the ground-breaking agreement with the City of Hammond to develop along a comprehensive outdoor athletic facility at Dowling Park, while continuing to help key fundraising and planning efforts for the facility. Friend has also run the annual Powers-Purdue Calumet Golf Outing to raise funds for the PUC athletic scholarship fund, an event he began with athletic booster Don Powers in 1980.
John began his time at Purdue Calumet in July 1980, when he was named Athletic Director and administrator of the Fitness and Recreation Center. In April 1984, he was elected the district chair of the N.A.I.A. District 21, the top administrative position in the 22 member association of small colleges in Indiana. He was also honored in December 1987 with his induction into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame.
The legendary athletic administrator has received numerous honors for his exemplary work in the field, having been inducted into the NAIA, Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Purdue Calumet, Hammond, Lipscomb, and Munster Halls of Fame. He has also earned numerous PUC Administrator of the Year honors and served as the NAIA District 21 Chairman for a number of years.
A native of Cedar Lake, John was a football and basketball standout at Crown Point High School in the early 1950’s, earning mention on the all-state teams in both sports. He took his talents to David Lipscomb College where he attained all-conference recognition in basketball, while also being tabbed captain and MVP of the 1957 Bison team.
After graduating from Lipscomb with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education and History, John went to Southern Illinois University where he coached freshman basketball, assisted in football and received an MS degree.
Following a short stint at Merrillville High School, he moved to Pepperdine University (Los Angeles) as a freshman basketball coach, assistant football coach and instructor of physical education. His freshman basketball teams were some of the winningest in Pepperdine history.
When the construction of a new high school began in Munster in 1964, John was summoned to lead the Physical Education and Athletic Program. As Athletic Director of the broad Munster program, he saw the development of one of the state’s strongest prep powers, including nine state champions in the school’s 18-sport varsity program.
He coached both football and basketball in his first two years at Munster, before concentrating on football for the remainder of his 16-year stay. Friend wrapped up his prep coaching career with an overall record of 119-32, including seven Lake Suburban titles, over 25 all-state recipients and eight teams ranked in the state’s Top 10.
Friend is known nationwide as one of the top football minds, serving as a keynote speaker at dozens of clinics from coast to coast and in Canada. A number of his articles have been featured in football publications and his textbook entitled "Coaching Youth Football" was adopted as the National Pop Warner coaches’ manual in 1977.
His professional leadership also extended to the presidency of the Indiana Football Coaches Association and as author of the "Grid Coach" magazine. Thanks in large parts to those efforts he was appointed National Football Chairman of the National High School Athletic Coaches Association, the nation’s number one prep grid post.
He is currently a member of the Munster School Board and serves on several Hall of Fame and Sportsmanship Boards. Also, he is a member of the Lake Heritage Parks Foundation.
Friend lives in Munster with his wife Bette. His three grown children; Doug, Tracy and Jerri have all served in leadership roles at various high schools in Northwest Indiana.
