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Postal Address: Wittenberg University P.O. Box 720 Springfield, Ohio 45501

Package Shipping Address: Wittenberg University 225 Fountain Ave. Springfield, Ohio 45504

After serving three years as director of athletics at Morgan State University, an NCAA Division I-AA institution in Baltimore, Garnett Purnell was named director of athletics and recreation at Wittenberg University on Aug. 1, 1999.

"Wittenberg University is known for having quality academic and athletic programs," Purnell said. "The goal of our athletics department is to enhance the student-athlete experience and the level of performance of our teams. This will help us to obtain the goal as being named as one of the top institutions in the NACDA Directors' Cup standings."

Purnell has an extensive background in intercollegiate athletics in southwest Ohio, where he began his coaching and administrative career in athletics. Purnell served six years as Assistant Athletic Director for Student Affairs at the University of Cincinnati, and five years as a Compliance Representative with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) prior to moving to Morgan State.

Purnell also brings with him a coaching background that includes four years at Central State University as an assistant football and basketball coach.

Since his arrival at Wittenberg, the Tigers advanced from fifth place in the North Coast Athletic Conference all-sports standings to third in 1999-2000 and 2000-01 and second in 2001-02 and 2002-03. In 2003, Wittenberg finished 20th in the Directors' Cup standings, its best finish ever. Purnell also served as assistant field hockey coach when a vacancy appeared early in the fall season of his first year at Wittenberg, and he took over the reins of the men's golf program in 2004, leading the team to top-four finishes in the NCAC three straight years.

Purnell has become well-known to Tiger fans, as his booming voice can be heard at nearly every Wittenberg sporting event, rousing the crowd and encouraging the student-athletes. He also introduced Wittenberg and the Springfield community to the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP), an athletic and enrichment program for local youths. It was one of more than 200 such programs run each summer across the country with funding from the NCAA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

A native of Philadelphia, Purnell received his bachelor's degree from Cheyney University in 1973 and his master's degree from the University of Dayton in 1984.

Purnell and his wife, Sally, reside in Springfield and have four children: Lauren, Luke, Leslie and Xavior.