Athletics
In the final day of June, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s College celebrates and thanks a true pillar among the institution as Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Cheryl Ish transitions to a faculty role in our Sport Management program for the upcoming academic year.
"It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the student-athletes, coaches, and staff of ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s College for the past 31 years," said Ish. "From my early days as a field hockey coach to my role as Athletic Director, I've been continually inspired by the dedication, passion, and teamwork that define our athletics community. I'm deeply grateful to the coaches and staff I've had the privilege to work alongside—your commitment has shaped not only our programs but also generations of student-athletes. While I'll miss the daily camaraderie, I'm excited to begin this next chapter as a faculty member. I look forward to cheering on the department as it continues to grow and reaches new levels of success."
Ish joined the Monarchs in 1994-95 as the Head Field Hockey Coach and Assistant Director of Athletics following a Salisbury University Athletics Hall of Fame-worthy career. In her early days in Wilkes-Barre, Ish guided the field hockey program to 243 wins over 22 seasons, marking the program's most successful stretch in history, with three conference championship titles, three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, and nine post-season berths. She also coached 90 All-MAC Freedom players, 14 NFHCA Regional All-Americans, and an NFHCA Division III All-American while collecting three MAC Freedom Coach of the Year accolades in her career on the field hockey sidelines.
In addition to her field hockey career, Ish started the women's lacrosse team at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s and served as head coach from 1996 to 2001.
Her transition as an administrator spanned the length of her career, joining ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s as an Assistant Athletic Director before transitioning to Associate Director of Athletics in 2004 and eventually elevating to Director of Athletics a year later in 2005. Among her countless hours supporting our Monarch student-athletes in practice and competition, Ish added eight varsity programs since 2005, including men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, men's and women's ice hockey, men's volleyball, and women's golf which placed ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s at the top of the MAC in sports sponsorship at the time.
"For 31 years, Cheryl Ish has been the heart and soul of ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s College athletics," added current Assistant Athletic Director and former men's lacrosse coach Andy Orlowski. "Her leadership, integrity, and tireless commitment have shaped not just programs, but people. Cheryl, your impact reaches far beyond wins and championships; you've built a community rooted in respect, resilience, commitment. Thank you for being a mentor, a trailblazer, and a true Monarch through and through."
Ish's impact stretched across the campus, region, and division. She served on countless committees at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s, including the College's Rebranding Committee that led to a new athletic logo series, the Care Team, Child Safety and Protection Committee, and the latest Strategic Planning committee. She was involved in the conversion of the Monarch Fields grass playing surface to a multi-sport turf field that would eventually be renamed McCarthy Stadium, the planning and design of the Recreation Gym in Scandlon, numerous renovation projects, and the construction of the eight-lane outdoor track and field facility.
Outside Wilkes-Barre, Ish was heavily involved within the MAC as part of their Strategic Planning Committee, Branding Committee, and Awards Committee as well as a member of the MAC Executive Board and Athletic Director's Board. She was honored and recognized for her commitment with the MAC's Lou Sorrentino Award in 2018, presented to an athletics administrator who has had a sustained and influential role in conference and national affairs and embodies the NCAA Division III philosophy.
At the national level, Ish was a member of the National Association of Division III Athletic Directors, two-time member of the NCAA Regional Field Hockey Committee, the NFHCA All-American Selection Committee, and an NCAA Representative for three regional field hockey championship sites.
Arguably one of her favorite collaborations throughout her career came in 2011 as she instituted ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s volunteerism with the Luzerne County Special Olympics Basketball program where our Monarch student-athletes from all sports lend their time on Tuesday evenings to practicing, coaching, and teaching dozens of Special Olympic athletes throughout the spring semester. This program, still in effect today, is highly anticipated among both our ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s student-athletes and the Special Olympic athletes and concludes each spring with a Red Carpet Dance celebration that livens McGrane Gymnasium and brings smiles to the faces of everyone in attendance.
"As a coach and as the leader of NCAA Athletics and Recreation at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s, Cheryl has demonstrated a deep passion for the College's mission and its alignment with the student-athlete philosophy of Division III sports," stated ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s College President Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D. "I am thrilled that Cheryl is transitioning to a new role at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s parlaying her vast experience as coach and administrator into a faculty position in our Sport Management program."
Ish will transition to her faculty role in the Sport Management program, where she had been teaching courses throughout the last two years, this upcoming 2025-26 academic year.
ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s extends its most heartfelt and deepest congratulations on Cheryl Ish's historic career and legacy and is excited for this next chapter.
