Purdue University Northwest

Rick Costello is in his 12th year as Director of Athletics at Purdue University Northwest.  With more than two decades of experience in intercollegiate athletics administration, Rick Costello has overseen an amazing transformation of PNW Athletics, which consists of 21 sports and 450 student-athletes.  Rick Costello's visionary leadership has resulted in the following noteworthy accomplishments:

• Led the PNW Pride to NCAA Division II and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference membership
• Developed the following athletic facilities; Lalaeff & Fischer Golf Training Center, Dworkin Center (Volleyball and Basketball), Dowling Park (Softball, Baseball, Soccer and Tennis), Athletic Training and Physical Therapy Center, Graegin Academic Excellence Center, Fitness Center and two Esports Arenas
• Expanded athletics, with the addition of 11 teams and over 350 student-athletes, through the following sport offerings; Stunt (2024), Track & Field (2022), Esports (2020), Ice Hockey (2019), Women’s Golf (2016), Softball (2014) and Baseball (2014)
• In Spring 2023, the Pride set records with a 97% Student-Athlete Retention Rate and an 82% Career Placement Rate
• In April 2023, the Pride set a fundraising record for PNW Day of Giving in total funds raised with over $376,000.  In 2022, the Pride set a record raising over $120,000 for student-athlete scholarships at the annual golf tournaments.
• In 2019-20 as part of the vision to engage the community, the Pride volunteered over 3,000 hours with charities including Make A Wish Foundation, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Special Olympics, Handprints for Hope / It’s On Us, NWI Food, and Team Impact.

Rick's "Students First, Athletes Second" approach has resulted in the PNW Pride celebrating academic excellence.  The outstanding performance by the Pride in the classroom has resulted in the following achievements:

• Eight Academic All-Americans
• In Spring 2023, the Pride achieved a school record with an 83% Graduation Rate
• In Fall 2023, the Pride achieved a school record with the department GPA exceeding 3.0 for the 16th consecutive semester
• Multiple student-athletes being named to the GLIAC All-Academic and All-Academic Excellence teams

The PNW Pride athletic accomplishments have been equally impressive including;

• With the 2023-24 school year in progress, the Pride have accomplished the following historic achievements:
  • Ice Hockey won the first GLCHL Tournament Championship in program history, advanced to the elite eight of the National tournament and ranked #7 in the nation in the final poll
  • Ice Hockey student-athletes, Cooper Olson (Tournament MVP, first in school history), Sam Bourdages (Player of the Year, first in school history), and RJ Swaw (Rookie of the Year) were recognized for their outstanding performances
  • Men's Soccer won the first GLIAC Tournament Championship in school history
  • Men's Soccer student-athletes, Hugo Lorenzo (All-American & GLIAC Player of the Year, first in school history) and Eligh Williams (GLIAC Goalkeeper of the Year, first in school history) were recognized for their outstanding performances
  • Kiara Spates won the first Women's GLIAC Indoor Track & Field Triple Jump Championship in program history
  • JC Ramirez won the Men's GLIAC Indoor Track & Field Triple Jump Championship for the second consecutive year
  • League of Legends won the Battle for Indiana, GLIAC Championship (first in school history), and Midwest Esports Regular Season Championship (first in school history)
  • The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee won the Chancellor's Cup Challenge donating the most food of any student organization to the PNW Food Pantry

• In the 2022-23 school year the Pride set the following records:
  • Recorded the first three GLIAC champions in school history, with Alex Bishop winning the GLIAC Men’s Golf Championship and JC Ramirez winning the Men's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Triple Jump Championship
  • For the second year in the row, Selena Michko, Softball student-athlete, was named All-American
  • Volleyball, Men's Basketball, Softball, Women’s Tennis and Ice Hockey set records for most wins in a season as a member of NCAA DII / ACHA
  • Ice Hockey ranked #20 in the nation in the final poll
  • Men's Soccer advanced to the GLIAC semifinal for the second consecutive season
  • Sienna Lopez became the 1^st nationally ranked student-athlete in Women’s Tennis
  • Women’s Golf student-athlete, Margaux Catafort-Silva, set the school record with a round of 73.
  • Women’s Cross Country student-athlete, Christina Shaginaw, set the record for the 6K and 10K and Men’s Cross Country student-athlete, Quinton Bock, set the record for the 8K
  • Baseball student-athlete, Ray Hilbrich, became the all-time hits, home run, doubles, average leader and was named D2 All-Region 
• In the 2021-22 school year the Pride set the following records:
  • Men’s Soccer advanced to GLIAC semifinals for first time 
  • Men’s and Women’s Cross Country recorded school records with the top 5 setting PR’s at GLIAC Championships
  • Women’s Golf student-athlete, Libby Houston, set the school record with a round of 75
  • Men’s Golf had the first PNW student-athlete, Alex Bishop, selected for an NCAA Regional
  • Women’s Basketball recorded the most wins since joining NCAA DII 
  • Men’s Ice Hockey won the 2021-22 NCHL Division Championship
  • Softball recorded the most wins since joining NCAA DII and Selena Michko was named All-American
  • Baseball advanced to the GLIAC Tournament Championship game 
  • Esports won the Battle of Indiana Championship 
• In Spring 2021, the Pride hosted the GLIAC women’s and men’s basketball tournaments
• In 2021, Chad Patrick became the first PNW student-athlete drafted by Major League Baseball and Lena van Bergen became the first PNW student-athlete selected as a GLIAC nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year
• In 2019-20, PNW Women’s and Men’s Cross Country became the first PNW teams to qualify for NCAA championships
• In 2018-19, Ryan Hayes, former Head Men’s Soccer Coach, became the first Pride coach to win GLIAC Coach of the Year as the Men’s Soccer team hosted the first-ever home GLIAC playoff game for the Pride
• In 2017-18, the Pride Men’s Soccer and Softball teams became the first PNW teams to qualify for the GLIAC Playoffs. Pride student-athletes received the following awards: Third Team All-American in Softball, GLIAC Softball Player of the Year, GLIAC Baseball Freshmen Pitcher of the Year, and NCBWA DII Baseball Pitcher of the Week.

Rick Costello serves on the NCAA DII Men’s Basketball Committee and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Finance and Men’s Basketball Committees.  Additionally, Rick Costello serves as host of PNW Athletics Today which is streamed monthly on JEDtv.com and Facebook. Costello offers more than a decade of NCAA Division I administrative experience. He came to Purdue Northwest from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he served as the Director of Athletics. In addition, he served as Deputy Director of Athletics at Rutgers University, Director of Athletics at Delaware State University, Associate Athletic Director at the University of South Florida and Assistant Athletic Director at San Jose State University. He also served as men’s assistant basketball coach at Lehigh University during the 1990's. Rick Costello earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Lehigh University and a Bachelors in Accounting from Muhlenberg College.

Rick and Amy Costello are the proud parents of Kelsea, Lauren, Ryan and Lindsey.
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