MERRILLVILLE - Nolan Petties is no stranger to the sports community in Northwest Indiana. The former three sports athlete at Roosevelt High School in Gary and Valparaiso University basketball player has been sharing his knowledge of track and field in the Region for over two decades. He’ll now get to impart that wisdom to 59er athletes as Andrean High School is proud to announce the hiring of Coach Petties as the school’s new boys varsity track and field coach. “I’m excited to give my gift of track knowledge to our athletes,” Petties said. “Because of my own past trials, traumas and tribulations as a student athlete, I am a firm believer that we experience things in life because we’re here to help others.” The hiring of Petties signals a change for Andrean track and field as the boys and girls teams will now operate separately, but still work toward the same goal of success on the track. “We’re excited to be in the position where we can have a new coach dedicated to the boys team while also bringing back Dr. Veronica Williams to focus on the girls team,” Andrean Athletic Director Neil Dimos said. “We have so many student athletes interested in the sport that splitting the teams is going to be great for every athlete so they receive more personalized coaching and instruction.” Petties was previously the Track and Field head coach at Andrean from 2000 through 2005 but has spent the recent majority of his coaching career as an assistant. With his experience, he has some big goals for his first year at the helm of the program, and not just on the results sheet. “Our coaching staff is going to model integrity, sportsmanship, discipline, responsibility, humility, teamwork, commitment and respect for our athletes,” Petties said. “We’re going to hold the coaching staff and athletes to the highest standards of sportsmanship.” Boys track is currently in its off-season training program. For student athletes interested in joining the track team, please contact the Athletic Office at ndimos@andreanhs.com, nlaird@andreanhs.com, or Coach Petties at npetties@andreanhs.com.