Tom Megyesi appointed women's acting basketball coach

Purdue University Calumet has appointed respected, former, longtime Lake Central High School girls basketball coach Tom Megyesi as acting women's basketball coach at Purdue University Calumet.

Megyesi takes over from Dennis Smith, who resigned last week. Megyesi has accepted a three and a half-month appointment, which begins Thursday (3/15) and includes the possibility of continuing indefinitely.

"I'm very excited to be part of the Purdue University Calumet family," Megyesi said. "I look forward to taking my coaching career to the intercollegiate level, as well as the opportunity to recruit some of the outstanding, young female student athletes in and around our region. There are many fine basketball players who leave high school unnoticed, but can contribute to a successful Purdue Calumet program."

Megyesi coached Lake Central girls' teams to a 370-164 record over 24 seasons (1982-2006). During that time, he led his squads to 11 sectional championships, four regional titles, three semi-state crowns, a state runner-up finish in 1998 and a state championship in 1994.

He has received numerous coaching honors, including selection in 1994 and 1998 as Coach of the Year by the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association. After retiring from Lake Central following the 2005-06 season, he returned last season to coach the Washington Township High School girl's team to a 10-12 record.

"Tom brings tremendous experience and expertise, and his credentials are outstanding," Purdue Calumet Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Melinda Dalgarn said. "The respect he commands within local high school girls' basketball circles will be important to us in our efforts to strengthen our women's basketball program."

Purdue Calumet's Lady Peregrines finished the 2006-07 season with a 6-24 record and just eight rostered players.

"We're delighted to find a coach of Tom's caliber available to join our program as acting coach," Purdue Calumet athletic consultant John Friend said. "No one is more qualified; plus, he's a first class person. Similar to Russ Marcinek's appointment as acting men's coach, we look forward to Tom coming on board and taking immediate steps to move our women's basketball program forward."

Primarily, those steps will include recruiting and overseeing an off-season program for returning players. Seven 2006-07 Purdue Calumet players are underclassmen, including All-Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference honorable mention junior guard Linsey Smith, who played for Megyesi at Lake Central.

News Release Date: March 12, 2007