Administration
Welcome to Lawrence North Athletics!
Lawrence North High School offers 23 varsity sports. More than 800 students are involved in our athletic program. Every year, numerous individuals continue their athletic participation at the collegiate and professional levels.
Athletic Director - Mike Penrose
Mr. Penrose has spent his entire educational career at Lawrence North High School since he started as a mathematics teacher in 1994. He taught various courses for 18 years before moving into administration in 2012, serving as Dean of Students and then Assistant Principal before moving into the role of Athletic Director in 2015.
A graduate of New Castle High School, he set several club and school records as a member of the Trojan swim team. He graduated from Butler University in 1994. While at Butler, he was a member of the swim team, setting a school record as a member of the 200 freestyle relay.
Penrose began his coaching career at LN in 1994 as an assistant swimming coach. From 2000 – 2012, he served as the head swimming & diving coach. During this time, the Wildcats won three Marion County championships and seven IHSAA sectional titles. He and his staff produced 18 NISCA All-Americans and 19 Academic All-Americans. His fellow coaches recognized Penrose as the Sectional Coach of the Year seven times (4 boys/ 3 girls) and Marion County County Coach of the Year eleven times (6 boys/5 girls). In 2008, he received the prestigious St. Vincent Integrity Coach of the Year Award. Penrose served as President of the Indiana High School Swimming Coaches Association from 2004 – 2008, and Vice-President of the Indiana High School Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame from 2005 – 2009. He was also an assistant baseball coach for three years.
Under Penrose’s leadership, the Lawrence North athletic department received the NCAA TeamWorks Community Champion Award in 2016, the Crossroads Officials Sportsmanship Award in 2017, and the IHSAA Sportsmanship Award in 2018. Lawrence North has also been recognized as a National Safe Sport School by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association from 2018-2021. A NIAAA Certified Athletic Administrator, he currently serves on the IHSAA Sportsmanship Committee.
Mike and his wife Joy have lived in Lawrence Township for over 25 years, and have two children who attended LT schools. Emma graduated from LN in 2017 and received a degree in nursing from Purdue University. Jacob graduated from LN in 2019, and is currently a student at Wabash College majoring in environmental science/biology where he is a member of the swim team.
In his spare time, Mike enjoys golf, the outdoors, traveling, taking adventures with his family and friends, and cheering on his beloved Pittsburgh sports teams.
Assistant Athletic Director - Jim Zeller
Jim Zeller was named the Assistant Athletic Director at Lawrence North in 2003. Originally from Bloomington, Indiana, Zeller participated in football, basketball, swimming, and baseball (captain) at Bloomington South High School. He played collegiate football (three letters) and baseball (four letters) at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. He was also named six times to Wheaton’s Academic Dean’s list. After earning his undergraduate degree from Wheaton, Zeller attended Indiana University where he earned his Masters Degree in Administrative Physical Education.
Zeller completed his 35th year as a Marion County Athletic Director at the end of the 2020-21 school year. He previously held the position of Athletic Director at Decatur Central High School from 1997 to 2003. Prior to that, he was the Athletic Director at Indianapolis Bishop Chatard High School from 1986-1997. While at Chatard he also served as the Head Baseball coach. Jim started his teaching career at Grace Brethren Christian School in Clinton, Maryland from 1982-1985 and coached baseball, soccer and basketball.
Zeller has had the privilege of experiencing eight of the school’s fourteen IHSAA State Championships during his time at Lawrence North, and in 2006, Lawrence North became Indiana’s first National Champion in Boys Basketball. During his tenure, Lawrence North has also realized the first minority head coaching hires and they currently boast what may be the nation’s only female head strength coach.
Zeller has served the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association as a presenter and Junior Representative for his district. He has also been recognized by the Indiana Football Coaches Association and Bishop Chatard High School for character and leadership. He was also co-recipient of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association “Administrator of the Year” with then Lawrence North Athletic Director, Grant Nesbit, in 2012.
Jim and his wife, Wendie, have three children: Justin, a football and All-American baseball player from Wheaton College, currently serves as a Vice-President/External Advisor Consultant of First Trust in the Pittsburgh area. Julia, a graduate of Wheaton College and currently involved in full time Christian youth ministry with GRIP in Chicago. Jacob, a graduate and All-Conference baseball player from Wheaton College, is currently the youth pastor at Redeeming Grace Church in Prospect Heights, IL. Wendie is self-employed as a personal trainer. In his spare time, Jim enjoys home improvement projects and competing in triathlons.
Athletic Administrative Assistant - Consuelo Sanders