January 20, 1999
EVANSTON, Ill. - Don Perrelli, head coach of the Northwestern University women's basketball team, will retire at the end of this year's season. The announcement was made today by Northwestern athletic director Rick Taylor. Perrelli is in his 15th year as the head coach of the Wildcats and 23rd as a collegiate head coach. His teams have made 13 postseason appearances, six of those by NU. In addition, he has had 10 20-plus win seasons and 19 winning seasons in 22 years. Twice named the Big Ten Coach of the Year (1987, 1990), Perrelli and his Wildcats have finished in the top five of the league nine times, while winning the Big Ten Conference title in 1989-90 (24-5 overall, 15-3 Big Ten).
"We accept Don Perrelli's decision to retire with great reluctance," said Taylor. "In his 15 years at Northwestern, he has come to embody the combination of excellence in athletics and academics to which we all strive. We will miss him greatly."
Nationally, Perrelli is ranked among the top 30 winningest coaches by victories (422) and the top 40 in winning percentage (422-244, .634). In the Big Ten, his 132 conference victories rank fourth-best all-time, and he is just four wins shy of taking over second place. Perrelli's overall mark of 247 victories at Northwestern rank third in the Big Ten record book.
Perrelli's players have accorded numerous honors during his tenure: 22 academic All-Big Ten selections, 19 All-Big Ten honorees. In addition, Anucha Browne (1985) and Kristina Divjak (1998) were named Kodak All-Americans, while Browne was chosen the Big Ten Player of the Year in 1985.
"It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement at the end of the 1998-99 season," began Perrelli. "Because the process of hiring a coach takes a great deal of time and effort, and to provide for a smooth transition for present and future student-athletes, my announcement must come at this time.
"I have truly enjoyed my tenure with Northwestern University and women's basketball. I would like to thank all who contributed to my enjoyment. I am sincerely grateful to present and past players, assistant coaches, Northwestern athletic and central administration, colleagues, our booster group members and the many fans, especially the young ones. All of you have helped make my life so exciting and I wish everyone well in this venue that has given me such pleasure.
"Knowing it will be my last season, I look forward to the rest of the year, as well as the possibility of postseason play, with invigorated strength and energy. I am eagerly anticipating the new challenges and adjustments that retirement will present as well as spending quality time with my wife, Lynne, and my family," concluded Perrelli.
Prior to coming to Northwestern in 1994, Perrelli was head coach at St. John's University (1979-84), where he won 118 of 161 games and led his teams to four-consecutive postseason tournaments. He directed St. John's to Big East Conference titles in 1982 and 1983 and was honored as Big East Coach of the Year in 1983.
The New Haven, Conn., native began his head coaching career at his alma mater, Southern Connecticut State College (1976-79). He led the Fighting Owls to three-straight AIAW tournaments and established a 57-28 mark. As a player at Southern Connecticut, Perrelli led the nation's small colleges in scoring with a 31.5 average during his senior season. He graduated with a B.S. in health and physical education in 1961. Also at Southern Connecticut, he earned his masters in physical education and a sixth year in administration. In addition, Perrelli was a charter member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and served on its Executive Board.
Northwestern will begin a national search to determine Coach Perrelli's successor in the near future.