Bio

Jeff Curtis was named Athletic Director in the summer of 2021. He replaced Dave Marsh, who resigned to take over as assistant professor and department chair of the school’s Sport Management academic program.

Curtis spent 21 years on staff at Northwood prior to being named Athletic Director, the last 17 of which were as head coach of the women's basketball program. In the summer of 2017, he earned the title of Assistant Athletic Director for Alumni Relations.

He brought a new level of success to the program that has never been achieved at the Division II level. Curtis ended the 2020-21 season with a 233-227 record. His 233 victories are 152 more than any other coach in NU women's basketball history. Curtis has led Northwood to the GLIAC Tournament 11 times in the last 14 years. The team had never reached the tournament prior to his arrival as head coach.

Curtis led Northwood to a big 2020-21 season, finishing third overall in the GLIAC and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history. Northwood picked up road wins over Michigan Tech and Grand Valley State as well a defeating Ashland at home, all of whom reached the NCAA Tournament.

Despite losing four of their top five scorers from the previous season, Curtis led Northwood to 13 wins overall and spot in the GLIAC Tournament in 2018-19. 

The Timberwolves earned a spot in the GLIAC Tournament semifinals for the second time in program history in 2017-18. Lindsay Orwat earned First Team All-GLIAC honors, while Maddy Seeley was named Second Team All-GLIAC. The team finished the season with 17 victories.

Northwood reached the GLIAC tournament for the fourth straight season in the 2016-17 season. Jordyn Nurenberg earned First Team All-GLIAC honors for the second straight time, leading the Timberwolves to a 16-win season. 

Despite losing four senior starters from the previous season, Curtis guided the Timberwolves to 17 wins and a spot in the GLIAC Tournament in the 2015-16 season. Northwood had two First Team All-GLIAC honorees (Jordyn Nurenberg, Lauren Robak) and Nurenberg led all of Division II in double-doubles (22).

The 2014-15 season saw the team win 18 games overall, the second most wins at the Division II level in school history. NU's 14 GLIAC wins were also the second most in school history.

Northwood returned to the GLIAC Tournament during the 2013-14 season. The Timberwolves finished the season with 14 victories, the fourth-most for NU at the Division II level.

Curtis became the winningest coach in school history during the 2010-11 season. After a slow start, Northwood posted 15 victories and won a GLIAC Tournament game for the first time in school history. Northwood was led by Pam Wilson, who became the first player in NU history to be a First Team WBCA All-American.

During the 2009-10 season, despite losing seven players to season-ending injuries, Northwood won 13 games and reached the GLIAC Tournament for the third straight season.  NU featured WBCA Honorable Mention All-American Jodi Ostergren, First Team All-GLIAC honoree Pam Wilson and GLIAC All-Defensive Team member Karlie LeRoy.  NU also sported the 16th-best team GPA in Division II (3.466).  It was the fourth straight season the Timberwolves were ranked in the top-25 nationally.

Northwood set a total of 18 school records, including wins in a season (21), GLIAC wins (16) and winning percentage (.724) in the 2008-09 season. NU had its first Division II All-American in Megan Starnes and placed three players on the All-GLIAC team (Megan Starnes, Jodi Ostergren and Sarah Glowacki) as well as a player on the GLIAC All-Defensive team (Karlie LeRoy). The Timberwolves also reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and were ranked among the top-25 in GPA among D-II schools for the third straight year.

The 2007-08 GLIAC and WBCA Region IV Coach of the Year, Curtis guided Northwood to new heights in his fourth season as head coach. The Timberwolves claimed a share of the GLIAC North Division Championship, posting a school-record mark of 13-5 in the league. NU also reached the GLIAC Tournament for the first time in school history and earned a regional ranking for the first time. Northwood set a school-record for winning percentage in a season (.667) and were the lone program in the GLIAC to finish the season without a losing streak. The Timberwolves featured Megan Starnes, who was the first player in school history to earn First Team All-GLIAC as well as All-Defensive team honors.

Northwood posted nine victories in the 2006-07 season, giving them 28 over Curtis’ first three years. That total was the highest over a three year stretch at Northwood since 1990-93. The Timberwolves also sported a team Grade Point Average of 3.371, which ranked them 17th nationally out of 275 Division II programs.

The 2005-06 season saw Northwood reach 10 wins for the first time since the 1991-92 season. The Timberwolves finished the season playing its best basketball of the season, winning four its last five games. Northwood finished the year shooting 37.3 percent from 3-point range, which ranked 15th in Division II.

In his first season at the helm of the women’s team, Curtis guided the Timberwolves to a four-game improvement. Northwood ended the year on a high note, earning a pair of wins in the final weekend of the season, including a 79-77 victory over No. 8 Lake Superior. That loss was just the second for the Lakers in conference play. Northwood also snapped a 28-game losing streak to Northern Michigan earlier in the season.

Prior to taking over the women’s program, Curtis had been the top assistant with the Northwood men’s basketball program the previous four seasons. Curtis worked with all areas of the team and served as the head recruiter.

Curtis coached at Alma, his alma mater, for two seasons upon graduation. During that time, he was assistant varsity and head junior varsity coach. As a player for the Scots, he served as team captain in both his junior and senior seasons. In his junior year, he ranked second in the nation for three-point percentage. Curtis led the MIAA in three-point percentage in his junior and senior seasons.

A native of Charlotte, Michigan, Curtis earned his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 1998 and his Master’s degree in Sports Administration at Central Michigan University.

Jeff and his wife Ellen reside in Midland with their three children: Jackson, Jacob and Catherine.