GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – James (Jim) Purtill has been hired as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Davenport University announced by head coach Sparky McEwen. Purtill has a wealth of football coaching experience and will be a vital part of the team's success in the future. He most recently served as pass game coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Wisconsin-Oshkosh over the two seasons. The Titans had the best two-year run in school history with a 24-4 record and advanced to the NCAA Division III National Championship. The team was ranked second in 2016 and fifth in 2015 by season's end. UW-Oshkosh won the 2015 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and set school records for points (550).

Purtill spent from 1999-2013 as the head coach at St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin. He guided the Green Knights to their most successful era in school history rebuilding the program into a conference and national power. He served as offensive coordinator/offensive line coach in addition to his head coaching duties at St. Norbert. SNC went 130-30 during Purtill's time on the sidelines with four undefeated regular seasons and eight national Top 25 rankings. His teams won 11 Midwest Conference titles and he was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009.

Purtill has ties to Michigan as well having coached at Albion College from 1995-1998. He served as offensive coordinator/offensive line coach for the Britons and was named American Football Quarterly NCAA Division III Offensive Coordinator of the Year in 1996. Albion won three Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles during his time and made two appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Purtill also has ties with NCAA Division II and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference serving as offensive line coach at Ferris State University from 1988-1994. While at Big Rapids, the Bulldogs won their first conference championship in school history in 1992. The program also won the conference title in 1993 and 1994 making trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs. The team set 42 school records and established an unbeaten streak of 29 games during that span.

"Coach Purtill is one of the winningest coaches in NCAA history, more importantly, he's a winner in developing young people," said McEwen. "His resume speaks for itself, and his experience in the GLIAC was a plus for me bringing him here to Davenport as we transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II."

Purtill received his bachelor's degree from Miami University in education and achieved his master's degree from Salem College (WV) in physical education.