FORESTER ATHLETICS
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Lori Culler
Head Coach

As Head Coach Lori Culler heads into her twenty-forth year at the Forester helm, several distinctions have become the norm for the women’s basketball program.  She led her 2008-09 squad to the best start in HU history by going 8-0, finishing with a 25-7 record.  By winning the MCC conference tournament, the Foresters earned an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament where they finished in the Sweet 16. 

On the court, Culler’s teams have been distinctly successful on a number of levels.  Her teams, which have won an average of 18 games during her 23 years, have posted 16 winning seasons.  Seven squads brought home a Mid-Central Conference (MCC) regular season titles, including five teams that went undefeated through conference play.  In addition, the 1993-94 and 2008-09 squads brought home conference tournament titles.  Two teams were crowned NCCAA National Champions in 1991 and 1992.  Culler also guided her 1993-94 team to the program’s first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament.  Twenty-three times her players have earned NAIA and/or NCCAA All-American honors, and on 46 occasions players have received MCC All-Conference honors, including Amy Bechtel, who was MCC Player of the Year in 1998-99.

The success of Culler’s teams has led to her own recognition.  Throughout her coaching career, Culler has been acknowledged as Coach of the Year at the NCCAA and NAIA District level.  She was named the Mid-Central Conference Coach of the Year seven times and NCCAA National Coach of the Year twice.  In November of 2006, Culler was inducted into Huntington University’s Athletic Hall of Fame, and last October, she received the University’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award.  Culler’s career record stands at 404-269. 

Because of Culler’s commitment to the concept of the student-athlete, it is not surprising that her teams have had notable success in the classroom as well.  Twelve years ago, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) began publishing a Top-25 Team Honor Roll.  The Foresters have appeared on the list nine times with their highest ranking a fourth place finish in both 1997 and 1998.  Seventeen individual players also have been recognized as NAIA or NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athletes and a remarkable 96% of her scholarship players have earned their degrees. 

Culler also has given back to the sport with her involvement in various activities at the conference, regional, and national levels.  During her 22 years, Culler has served as chair of the MCC and NAIA Region VIII women’s basketball committees; she was the conference rater for 12 years and served terms on the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Tournament Committee and the Francis Naismith-Pomeroy Selection Committee.  Culler also is an active member of the WBCA. 

During her playing career as a Forester, 1982-1985, Culler scored 1307 points and was the third women’s player to join Huntington’s 1000 Point Club.  She was a member of the 1984 NCCAA national championship basketball team and received NAIA Academic All-American and Honorable Mention All-American honors.  Culler is a 1986 graduate of Huntington College and earned her MS in Athletic Administration from Ball State University.  She currently serves as Sports Information Director and Coordinator of Athletic Eligibility.

Joe Grogg
Assistant Coach

Joe Grogg returns for his fifth season as an assistant for the Foresters.  He brings a variety of coaching experiences to the position.  Grogg, who graduated from Huntington College in 1976, assisted Forester men’s coach Keith Spahr from 1974 to 1978.  From 1985-1994, he served as an assistant coach in the boys’ program at Jay County High School.  In 1995, Grogg took on his first head coaching responsibilities as boys’ coach at Adams Central High School.  During his four-year stint, the Flying Jets continued to improve and eventually reached the Sectional final in his final season.  Most recently, he assisted Huntington North Viking boys coach, Eric Foister for two years.  

Grogg’s wealth of basketball knowledge is a tremendous asset to the program.  He puts it to good use in the practice setting, helping players improve fundamentals especially their shooting technique.  Grogg also spends many hours on the road recruiting for the Foresters. Currently Grogg teaches biology and chemistry at Huntington North High School.  He, and his wife Diana live in Huntington and have two children.  Their son Jeremy and his wife Roxanne are the proud parents of Isaac and Aaron.  Their daughter Jamie played her final year of basketball as a Forester on the 2004-05 squad.
 

Joanne Green
Assistant Coach

Joanne (Miller) Green returns for her sixteenth season as an assistant coach.  Green provides assistance with practices, recruiting and administrative tasks.  She also does a great job of developing rapport with the players and is a good resource person for them on campus. 

During Green’s years as an undergraduate at Huntington College, she excelled both as a student and as an athlete.  As a result of her athletic prowess, Miller received NAIA Scholar-Athlete and NAIA Honorable Mention All-American honors as well as NCCAA All-American honors.  Green was also a member of the 1991 and 1992 NCCAA national championship teams.  She was named MVP at both national tournaments.  She finished her stellar career at Huntington as the women’s all-time leading scorer with 1906 points.  Green’s outstanding basketball career was recognized with her induction into Huntington University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in the fall of 2007. 

As a student, Green earned Dean’s List honors in each of her eight semesters at Huntington and was inducted into the Alpha Chi National Honor Society.  She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in psychology in 1993.  She also earned her MS in student personnel administration in higher education from Ball State University in 1996. 

Green is currently employed as the Experiential Learning Coordinator in Huntington University’s Enterprise Resource Center.  Green, her husband Mark and stepson Tyler reside in Columbia City.