On Monday, Boomer Roberts was named the new head coach of Purdue Northwest’s men’s basketball program.
The Northwest Pride compete in Division II collegiate sports. Roberts previously coached at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill., where he led the team to an 84-48 overall record (.640 win percentage) over four seasons. He orchestrated the largest three-year turnaround at any level of college basketball from 2014 to 2017, bringing the Trinity from five wins in a season to 30.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to be the next head men’s basketball coach at Purdue Northwest and would like to thank Chancellor Keon and Rick Costello for trusting me to lead this program moving forward,” Roberts said in a statement on the team’s website. “My family and I are excited about the chance to be a part of the PNW family. We understand the challenge ahead of us, but we look forward to being ‘In the Fight’ with our guys as we compete in the classroom, in the community and on the court.”
Chicago Bears linebacker Sam Acho, a friend of Roberts’, tweeted his approval late Monday night.
SO proud of the homie @boomerroberts .. he’s one of the best men I know. A great friend, coach, husband, father and follow of Jesus (in no specific order)… thanks for all the ways you challenge me to be a better man. Proud (the good way) to call you friend https://t.co/za9aO25PLF
— Sam Acho (@TheSamAcho) May 15, 2018
Prior to joining Trinity, Roberts was the lead assistant basketball coach at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif., from 2010-14. During his time there, his Lions team won the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship in 2014.
He was also a former men’s basketball player at Vanguard, where he served as team captain for two seasons. In 2008, he was awarded VU’s “Male Athlete of Character” award.
BOOMER ROBERTS NAMED HEAD COACH OF PURDUE NORTHWEST MEN’S BASKETBALL https://t.co/MhVUbPnmmz pic.twitter.com/RiT5Y9bmOP
— PNW Athletics (@PNWathletics) May 15, 2018
Roberts says faith in Christ and prayer is vital to his walk each and every day.
“It’s something that really marks the way we want to live our lives,” Roberts said in a 2016 video. “We understand that we’re not in control so we’re praying all day and every day. And we want our faith to be seen in our actions, the way that we love each other, the way that we talk to each other. I’ll lead a team that prays and grinds and we continue to do it over and over.”
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