Head Coach and Senior Woman Administrator Courtney Locke announced Natalie Jarrett has joined the Purdue Northwest women’s basketball staff as Assistant Coach and Academic Services Coordinator.
In addition to her role with Women’s Basketball, Jarrett will lead the PNW Athletics Department academic support systems, priority registration, student-athlete welfare and will serve as liaison to Academic Affairs.
“I am excited to welcome Natalie Jarrett to our Pride family,” Locke said. “Her playing and coaching experience gives the ability to relate to our student-athletes and impact our program immediately. She values the student-athlete experience and developing young women, which makes her the right coach to help continue to move our team in the right direction.”
Jarrett comes to PNW after a four-year stint as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator with the women’s basketball program at Division I Lafayette College (PA). She helped the Leopards to a seven-win improvement in her first season and followed that up with the program’s best record in nearly 30 years in 2019-20. Jarrett assisted in the development of three all-conference selections, including Lafayette’s first Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Natalie Kucowski, who set the program single-season rebounding record. Kucowski became the first Leopard in program history to be drafted into the WNBA as the 35th pick by the Seattle Storm. Jarrett also led the efforts for signing one of the top recruiting classes in school history in 2018, which was highlighted by the 95th-ranked point guard in the nation.
“I am thrilled to join Coach Locke’s staff and the culture she has created here at PNW,” said Jarrett. “She is passionate about her team and it shows! I look forward to making an immediate impact and continue uplifting our student-athletes.”
Jarrett brings 10 years of Division I coaching experience with additional stops at Lipscomb (2015-2017) and UC Santa Barbara (2011-2015). During her stint on UC Santa Barbara’s staff, the Gauchos made a run to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. At both stops, Jarrett was responsible for all aspects related to recruiting, academic support, scouting, practice planning and on-court player development.
Additionally, Jarrett has several years of head coaching experience at the AAU and prep levels. She guided the Cal Sparks national team to a top-15 finish in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League and helped develop numerous players that went on to play at the Division I level.
Jarrett played four seasons at UCLA and helped the Bruins earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament. She received a master’s degree in athletic administration from Ohio University and bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA.
