St. Paul, Minn. – Tim Whittle has been named the Macalester College head men's basketball coach. Whittle arrives in St. Paul following a successful assistant coaching stint at national powerhouse Washington University in St. Louis.

Whittle has served as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for the two-time NCAA Division III National Champion Washington University program and in five seasons there helped guide the Bears to a 112-30 overall record and three consecutive Final Four appearances. Washington U reached the Final Four in 2007 and won national titles in 2008 and 2009.

“I would like to thank President Brian Rosenberg, Vice President Laurie Hamre, and Athletic Director Kim Chandler for the faith they showed in me and for the opportunity to join the Macalester College family,” said Whittle. “During my visit this week, I felt like Macalester was the right fit for me and my family. I have been blessed with great mentors in my playing and coaching career who have helped prepare me to successfully lead the men's basketball program.”

Whittle replaces former Macalester head coach Curt Kietzer, who resigned following the recently completed season after heading the program for 12 seasons.

“Coming off back-to-back national championships, I believe I am ready to guide my own program and Macalester provides an ideal setting for student-athletes to excel academically and athletically,” said Whittle. “The Alumni Gymnasium and the entire Leonard Center are signs of the commitment by the administration to make athletics an extension of the classroom.” said Mac's new head coach. “I am ecstatic to have this opportunity to lead Mac basketball into tomorrow by finding true student-athletes who want the best of both worlds – strong academics and competitive athletics.”

“Tim Whittle is a terrific addition to the Macalester men's basketball program and to the Mac community,” said Macalester Director of Athletics Kim Chandler. “He is an outstanding basketball coach with tremendous credentials and I am confident that he will provide great leadership to our program. When you combine these traits with his tremendous work ethic and his passion for excellence, I know our program will develop quickly under Coach Whittle's leadership. Tim's work will begin immediately to solidify the 2009 incoming class and to provide direction for the young men currently in the program.”

“I am so excited for Coach Whittle and Macalester College,” said Washington University head coach Mark Edwards. “I think that it will be a perfect fit for everyone. Tim has been an important part of building Washington University's basketball tradition as both a player and a coach. He understands the role of athletics at a strong academic institution and the type of student-athlete that thrives in that environment.”

Prior to joining the Washington University staff for the 2004-05 season, Whittle served as an assistant coach for three years at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., where he was also head men's golf coach and assistant cross country coach.

In 1996, following his graduation from Washington University with a degree in Finance and Management, he began a four-year career in the banking business for SunTrust Bank in Atlanta.  He then joined the Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball. As the Manager of Finance, he coordinated efforts to fund a $400 million ball park in downtown Miami.

As a player, Whittle was a four-year letter-winner at Washington University, helping the Bears to a 79-27 record and two NCAA playoff appearances including a 1996 Elite Eight. Whittle received a Masters in Education degree in 2008 from William Woods University in Fulton, Mo.

He is married to the former Beth Slaughter of Albany, Ore.

Macalester College, founded in 1874, is a national liberal arts college with a full-time enrollment of 1,858 students. Macalester is nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to academic excellence, internationalism, multiculturalism and civic engagement.