MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) – After 19 years of holding dual roles in the Wisconsin Lutheran College Athletics Department, Skip Noon announced he will focus solely on his role as Director of Athletics, while relinquishing his position as head men's basketball coach of the Warriors.

"This is very difficult for me, but the time is right to move into the full-time role of Director of Athletics," said Noon. "When I started at WLC there were 250 students, eight sports, and no outdoor athletic facilities. Currently, we have 18 sports, 425 student-athletes, and the college needs me to focus my attention on leading the department forward."

In his 25 seasons as head men's basketball coach, Noon collected 318 career coaching victories and led Wisconsin Lutheran to a 206-176 record in conference games. The second-longest tenured coach in the state of Wisconsin, Noon won more games than any coach in program history and ranks third among winningest active coaches in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC).

A five-time conference Coach of the Year, Noon led the Warriors to six conference championships, two NAIA Tournament appearances (1996, 1997), and the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance (2006). Thirteen of WLC's 20 1,000-point scorers played under Noon. He has also mentored two All-Americans, seven conference Players of the Year, and 71 all-conference performers. Five of Noon's former players are also enshrined into WLC's Athletics Hall of Fame.

The Warriors reached the NACC Tournament for the fourth straight year in 2016-2017, finishing 16-11 overall and 12-8 in the NACC. WLC's 16 wins are the most since the 2007-2008 season, and its 12 conference victories tie for second-most all-time.

"It's a bittersweet moment," said Dr. Daniel W. Johnson, President of WLC. "I thank our Lord and Skip for his heroic impact on developing Christian men on and off the basketball court. WLC's growth warrants us to make this move. It's time for us to have a full-time Director of Athletics as we continue to grow and enhance our mission to prepare men and women for lives of Christian leadership through intercollegiate athletics."

Under Noon's leadership, WLC Athletics has undergone major changes, most recently the renovations to the Recreation Complex, Neumann Family Fields, and the addition of the Outdoor Athletic Center. Noon played an integral role in adding 10 sports during his tenure as WLC's Director of Athletics, and discussions are on-going for additional sport offerings. The Warriors have won 22 conference championships and have advanced to the NCAA Tournament 13 times since Noon's appointment in 1998.