Bishop Noll Institute alumnus Colin McCullough has been named the school’s next head football coach, Principal Craig Stafford announced today.
McCullough, who played football and ran track for BNI’s Warriors before graduating in 2005, has been an assistant coach for six seasons at local high schools.
“I am both humble and ecstatic about the opportunity to come home to my alma mater and give the next generation of Warriors what Bishop Noll gave to me,” McCullough said. “I have learned so much from the coaches I played for and the colleagues I coached with.”
McCullough has coached under Mark Peterson at Portage, Stacey Adams at East Chicago Central and Jason Johnson at West Side Leadership Academy in Gary. He spent four seasons with Adams at E.C., where he served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in helping advance a program that reached the 2013 Class 4A semistate.
At Portage, McCullough was reunited with Peterson, his senior season coach at BNI. During that senior year, he was a two-way standout at running back and defensive back. In one game, against Lake Athletic Conference foe Clark, McCullough scored five touchdowns for Noll – four rushing and one on a defense, returning a recovered fumble.
Now he returns to BNI to lead the program in which he previously starred.
“I am immensely grateful for this opportunity from the current administration and I appreciate the support I’ve already gotten from Bishop Noll alums across the country,” said McCullough, who will join the BNI faculty. “I am confident we will take this program to new heights as we continue to grow together.”
McCullough also played at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management. In 2012, he received a master’s degree in communications from Northwestern University.
Stafford said the Noll administration is excited to have McCullough lead BNI students in the classroom and on the field.
“Colin brings a passion for Bishop Noll Institute and its football program,” Stafford said. “As an alum and a former player, Colin understands the mission of our school, and the pride all of our stakeholders have in our academic and athletic programs.
“His enthusiam for Bishop Noll is contagious, and I believe he has what it takes to build a winning program.”
McCullough, a lifelong Gary resident who currently serves as the online learning coordinator at West Side, was introduced to the Bishop Noll football players and other students at a meeting at school this afternoon.
Recently married, McCullough and his wife, Imani, reside in Gary.