Now in his 22nd year in the Northwestern Oklahoma State University athletic program, Bob Battisti has dropped the role of Head Men’s Basketball Coach and assumed the position of Director of Athletics for the Rangers.

Named as Athletic Director on May 3, 2007, Battisti has been working fast and furiously to move the athletic program forward. In conjunction with the faculty senate Battisti has implemented a mandatory course performance check for all sports. In addition, he has developed the Northwestern Athletic Mission Statement that places an emphasis on character, sportsmanship and integrity among its student-athletes and staff. Battisti currently is working with his coaches to ensure that athletic facilities remain a high priority for improvement.

Battisti brings a wealth of intercollegiate athletics experience, insight and a history of pride in being a Ranger. A veteran of 28 years in collegiate coaching, he was the Men’s Basketball Coach at Northwestern from 1986-2007. During that time Northwestern won six conference titles and finished in the NAIA’s top 25 seven times. Battisti finished with a 409-295 overall collegiate record including a 374-265 mark at Northwestern. He led the Rangers to the NAIA national tournament five times including an "elite eight" finish in 2007. Battisti’s finest season was that of 1993-94 when the Rangers posted a 29-2 overall record and finished ranked #2 in the final national poll after advancing to the "sweet sixteen" of the NAIA national tournament. While at Northwestern he was named conference coach of the year five times and was selected as the NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1994 by Basketball Times. During his tenure, Battisti has coached three All-Americans and five Academic All-Americans.

Before coming to Northwestern, Battisti served as an assistant coach at Bethany (Minn.) Lutheran College for three seasons before earning his first head coaching position at Lakewood (Minn.) Community College. After three seasons there, he joined the staff at the University of Minnesota for two years.

Battisti, born in Warren, Mich., received his bachelor’s degree in health and sports science in 1981 from Minnesota State University-Mankato. He furthered his education with a master’s degree in education in 1985 from the University of Minnesota. He and his wife Shelly, have one son, Cooper, age 11.

Joe Phillips begins his third year as the Associate Athletic Director and 20th season as the Head Baseball Coach at Northwestern. He is the school's all-time winningest coach with 444 wins.

Phillips came to Northwestern in 1982 as a transfer from Cowley County (Kan.) Community College. The power-hitting first baseman landed a starting role for two seasons and still holds the record for most homeruns in a game with three.

After his athletic eligibility was completed, Phillips turned to the coaching profession and took the role as the Rangers' graduate assistant coach in 1984. That same season he received his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education. In 1988, he completed his master’s degree and was promoted Head Baseball Coach.

During the 2001 season, the Rangers amassed several bests. The squad set a record for most wins in a season with 49 and led the NAIA in batting average (.393) and runs scored (595). That same year, Northwestern achieved its highest NAIA national ranking, being rated seventh in the country.

In his tenure, Phillips has coached five NAIA All-Americans, including two-time first-team All-American and Northwestern Sports Hall of Famer Tom Zanca. He also has produced three NAIA Academic All-Americans.