Athletic Director Patti McCormack has recently announced that she will be retiring from her position at Lowell High School after decades of dedication. For over 30 years, she has served as a teacher, girls basketball coach, and athletic director during her career and has previously coached girls basketball, winning 275 games, 8 sectionals, 2 regionals, and 7 conference championships throughout her career before stepping into the athletic director position in 2010.
Her success on the court has earned her many awards such as the IIAAA Athletic Director of the year in 2015 and ICBA District 1 Administrator of the year in 2017. Most recently, she was recognized and honored with a Distinguished Service Award in 2024. As athletic director, she continued to make an impact. She was then recognized by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association for her contributions to athletics. This shows that she did not just manage athletics, she lived it and succeeded at a high level. She is a longtime leader who shaped Lowell athletics, who built strong programs and culture, and a mentor to athletes and coaches. She has brought decades of experience from coaching into administration. She helped grow and support athletic programs.
I proceeded to ask Ms. McCormack questions about her career. When reflecting on her proudest moment She responded with “I would say my proudest moments have been watching athletes reach their goals, step into their new facilities for the first time and feeling the pride,” she said. “Watching our high school athletes give back to our community and our future athletes. It is a tremendous experience to watch kids go from wide eyed freshmen to young adult leaders.”
When asked how the job has changed over time, she shared, “The job has changed me by constantly reminding me that things change, but our convictions don’t. Everyday I try to stand for the right things and do the right thing.”
She also emphasized the lessons that athletics can teach beyond competition. “I hope athletes have learned that one day they may not be competing as an athlete, but what they learned through competing is a life long lesson…perseverance, pride in your work, and both confidence and humility.”
Lastly, when asked what she will miss the most, she answered with “I will truly miss the people I work beside! My staff, coaches, athletes, all my co-workers inside and outside of LHS are what I will miss most. People truly lift me up every single day and I have loved being a part of their world!”
Though her time at Lowell High School is coming to an end, her impact will continue to be felt for years to come. From championships to character-building moments, McCormack’s legacy is one of dedication, lasting influence, and leadership.
