PUC appoints athletics head, women’s basketball coach

Robert D. Bunnell

Purdue University Calumet has turned to a veteran sports and student affairs administrator, coach and instructor to head its athletics program, while also rewarding the progress and efforts of its previously interim women’s basketball coach.

Robert D. Bunnell, who offers some 30 years of higher education-related experience, including 18 as an athletic director and baseball/softball coach, has been appointed Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health, Recreation and Sports/Athletics Director. The Narrowsburg, NY native starts July 16 and will succeed John Friend, who came out of retirement in January temporarily to bridge the gap of leadership following the resignation of previous Assistant Vice Chancellor Rob Jensen. To assist in the transition, Friend will continue his interim appointment as athletics consultant through mid-August.

Coach Tom Megyesi

Additionally, recent interim women’s basketball coach Tom Megyesi is losing the “interim” title with his appointment as Lady Peregrines head coach. Named interim coach in early March following the resignation of 10-year women’s team skipper Dennis Smith, Megyesi hit the floor running. In addition to implementing a reorganized Lady Peregrines’ off-season strength, conditioning and skills development program, he has attracted to campus an impressive, six-member recruiting class for the 2007-08 season.

“Both Bob Bunnell and Tom Megyesi bring the knowledge, experience, commitment and passion required to elevate our athletics program,” Purdue Calumet Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Melinda Dalgarn said. “Bob’s wide ranging and proven background in athletics and student affairs provides a solid foundation on which we can move forward. Tom, during his short stint as interim coach, impressed us with his knack for energizing and redirecting our women’s basketball program. We all are eager to build a program consistent with the mission of our university. This is an exciting time for athletics at Purdue Cal.”

Bunnell’s background includes athletics director appointments at two NCAA Division III institutions—Franklin & Marshall (PA) College (1999-2003) and Kenyon (OH) College (1990-99)—as well as Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (1977-81), then an NAIA university. Since 2004, he has served as Associate Professor and Director of the Sport, Arts and Entertainment Management Program at Point Park (PA) University in Pittsburgh.

He holds associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees from Orange County (NY) Community College, State University of New York at Brockport, East Stroudsburg (PA) University and Temple (PA) University, respectively.

In addition to athletics, Bunnell will have administrative responsibilities for Purdue Calumet’s fitness, wellness and intramural sports programs, as well as the Student Health Services Center and Counseling Center.

“For someone who has been employed in student affairs the past 30 years, I find the range of responsibilities in my new position particularly appealing,” he said. “I appreciate the support and encouragement I have received thus far from Vice Chancellor Dalgarn and Chancellor (Howard) Cohen. I look forward initially to meeting a lot of people and doing a lot of listening before developing a strategic plan for advancing Purdue Calumet athletics.”

Megyesi coached Lake Central High School 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 during 2006-07 to coach Washington Township’s girls’ team to a 10-12 record.

He takes over a Purdue Calumet Lady Peregrines squad that finished the 2006-07 season with a 6-24 record and just eight rostered players. Returnees include All-Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference honorable mention junior guard Linsey Smith, who played for Megyesi at Lake Central.

“I’m appreciative of being given the opportunity to be the next coach of the Purdue Calumet Lady Peregrines,” he said. “Our players have been working very hard this summer, eager to become the type of team we all desire.”

As interim coach, he secured the following recruits: guards Jamesha Harris (Merrillville HS), Amanda Moes (Highland HS) and Jenny Britton (Lake Central HS), forwards Chrissy Lobodinski (Merrillville HS) and Cortney Robinson (Hebron HS) and 6-5 center Rhiannon Howard (Moraine Valley Community College).

“Tom’s performance as interim coach speaks for itself,” Friend said. “He has recruited a strong incoming class, and he has implemented an impressive off-season program. In his short time on staff, he has changed the culture of our women’s basketball program.”

News Release Date: June 27, 2007