WILKES-BARRE, PA (July 26, 2024) -- On Friday afternoon, Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Cheryl Ish announced the newest title changes in the King's College Athletic Department. Women's Basketball Head Coach Caitlin Hadzimichalis has assumed the title Senior Woman Administrator, and Director of Sports Information Bridget Walsh has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications.

Hadzimichalis has been a part of the King's Athletic Department since 2009, starting her coaching career as an assistant coach until 2016 before becoming the sixth head coach in program history ahead of the 2016 season. She returned the Monarchs to a MAC Freedom contender, appearing in four consecutive tournament appearances including a championship game in 2020.

"This is an exciting time for King's College athletics, and I'm looking forward to stepping into this new leadership role within the department," said Hadzimichalis.

Outside of her work on the court, Hadzimichalis is very involved in the King's community as a member of Staff Council, a Holy Cross Experience (HCE) instructor, and an active participant with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) particularly with Special Olympics practices.

"Caitlin consistently demonstrates a desire to engage with various facets of the campus community," added Ish. "She possesses a deep understanding of the crucial role athletics plays at a small Division III college and is a staunch advocate for the student-athlete experience."

Additionally, Hadzimichalis attends the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) convention annually, serves as conference captain for the WBCA, volunteered in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Women's Coaching Symposium to help promote women in leadership roles in collegiate athletics, and was selected to attend the NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA), a premier program as part of WeCOACH that selects a small group out of thousands of applicants across multiple sports each year.

"Caitlin has a remarkable ability to mentor her fellow coaches, making a significant impact through her guidance and support," stated Ish. "This new administrative role is a natural progression in her distinguished career. The entire department stands to benefit immensely from her unwavering passion, loyalty, and commitment to excellence."

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Walsh will step into this new role ahead of her sixth year at King's. The local Dunmore native joined the Monarchs Sports Information Department as a graduate assistant in 2019 and was promoted to Director of Sports Information in September 2021.

"We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Bridget within our College Athletic Department," said Ish. "Since joining our community, Bridget has distinguished herself as a staunch advocate for our student-athletes. Her exceptional work ethic and impressive skill set have propelled her rapid rise within our athletic administration."

As Director of Sports Information, Walsh has guided several individuals to successful full-time careers in athletic communications as well as mentored students in their professional journeys in areas such as marketing, broadcasting, and communications. She is also currently in her second year as a supervisor under the NCAA Ethnic Minorities and Women's Internship Program.

"I would like to thank Cheryl Ish for this incredible opportunity at this stage in my professional career," added Walsh. "It is a great honor to promote our student-athletes and staff, and I'm excited to begin this next phase at King's within our growing department."

Outside of her day-to-day responsibilities, Walsh has brought several new initiatives and concepts, especially in the social-media realm, to the King's Monarchs accounts. With the help of her staff, she introduced the "mic'd up series" in 2021 and implemented a series of questions videos throughout the 2023-24 academic year. Additionally, she has also helped the annual Monarch Mayhem crowdfunding campaign's consistent growth and oversaw the transition to a 32-hour drive last year.

In the broader King's Community, Walsh was recently appointed to the College's Staff Council and was the recipient of the 2024 All-College Award for administration in recognition of outstanding loyalty, dedication, and leadership to King's College.

"Bridget has played a pivotal role in enhancing our athletic communication and promotion, consistently demonstrating her dedication and expertise," stated Ish. "Her contributions have significantly elevated our department, and we are excited to see her bring the same level of excellence to her new administrative responsibilities. Her strategic vision, leadership abilities, and commitment to student success position her perfectly for this new role. We look forward to witnessing her continued impact on our athletic department and the broader college community."

Both Hadzimichalis and Walsh will begin their new duties immediately as King's College athletics prepares for another exciting 2024-25 academic year.