Conference championship, finished with a 21-7 record, and was ranked 26th among NAIA Division 2 teams. Calumet produced several all-conference players, one of whom, Wilfredo Escobar, was named Honorable Mention All-America in 2010-11.University of the Incarnate Word men’s basketball coach, Dr. Carson Cunningham, has announced the hiring of Chris Artis as director of basketball operations. Artis comes to UIW from Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana, where he served for 13 years as a coach on the men’s basketball staff. Artis has an impressive basketball history as a player in the collegiate and professional ranks, and as a high school, post-graduate and college coach.
“We’re excited to welcome Chris Artis to Incarnate Word hoops,” Cunningham said. “His experience, infectious personality, diligence, exquisite bank shot, and his smarts and values are all admirable. The roles of a director of basketball operations are varied, instrumental and call for dynamism. Incarnate Word men’s basketball is excited to benefit from having such an eminently qualified person serving in this role.”
Artis served two terms on the coaching staff at Calumet, the first between 2004 and 2013 as an assistant coach. During the 2006-07 season, Calumet won its first Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship, finished with a 21-7 record, and was ranked 26th among NAIA Division 2 teams. Calumet produced several all-conference players, one of whom, Wilfredo Escobar, was named Honorable Mention All-America in 2010-11.
During the 2013-14 season, Artis was associate head coach at Bosco Institute of Crown Point, Indiana, which sent five players to Division I NCAA schools that year. During the 2014-15 season, Artis served as head boys’ basketball coach at Midwest Elite Preparatory High School in Crown Point, Indiana — which sent four players to D1 NCAA programs that season.
Artis returned to Calumet College as associate head coach for the 2015-16 season, where he has served until now. During the 2016-17 season, Calumet won its second CCAC regular-season title and received its first NAIA D2 tournament bid. During the 2018-19, Calumet started with a 12-0 record and received its highest weekly national ranking, 20th place.
Artis enjoyed a noteworthy career as an NCAA D1 player at Valparaiso. During the 1995-96 season, he helped lead Valpo to its first Mid-Continent Conference regular season and tournament championship, and its first berth in the NCAA Tournament. The next year, as team captain during his senior season, he was named All-Mid-Continent Conference. Again, he led the Crusaders to regular-season and conference tournament championships — and a return to the NCAA Tournament.
Upon graduating, Artis spent four seasons playing professional basketball in Australia, Norway, France and Uruguay.
Artis said, “I have always wanted to work with Coach Cunningham, as we go back 25 years. When this opportunity opened up, along with the great things he’s told me about The University of The Incarnate Word, I could not pass the chance up!”
Chris and his wife Melinda have two daughters, Gabriella, 12, and Olivia, 9.
Chris Artis hired as Director of Basketball Operations at UIW
Photo Courtesy UIW Athletics
