Cheryl Ish came to King's during the 1994-95 academic year and serves as the director of athletics. Ish arrived at King’s as the head field hockey coach and assistant director of athletics, but was promoted to associate director of athletics in 2004-05. She was then elevated to director of athletics in 2005-06.
Ish has been head field hockey coach at King's since the 1994 season where she has achieved great success. Ish has guided the Lady Monarch field hockey program to their winningest stretch ever. She has posted an overall 219-159 record at King's entering the 2014 campaign. Since 1999, Ish has led King’s field hockey program to at least 10 victories all but one season.
In 2006, she led the squad to a school record 19 wins, the Freedom Conference championshp, and a berth in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. In 2007, her squad would add a second straight Freedom Conference Title while earning another trip to the NCAA Tourney. In 2005 the squad also finished the year ranked 20th nationally by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.
Under her direction, King’s has also had Freedom Conference Tournament runner-up finishes in 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, and 2012. She was named the MAC Freedom field hockey "Coach of the Year" in 1996 and again in 2005, and 2012.
In field hockey, Ish has coached numerous players who have earned MAC Freedom all-star status with 14 National Field Hockey Coaches Association Regional All-Americans. In 2012, Ish had her first NFHCA All-American in Jenera Quinones.
In 1996, Ish started the King’s women’s lacrosse program and served as the head coach where she nurtured the program until stepping aside following the 2001 campaign to assume greater responsibilities as an athletic administrator.
Prior to her arrival at King’s, Ish enjoyed a brilliant collegiate athletic career. Ish earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Salisbury State University in 1992 where she was a three-time NCAA Division III All-American in field hockey. In 1988, she guided Salisbury to a 16-3-3 record and a third-place finish in the national tournament, while advancing to the quarterfinals in each of her final three seasons. Ish was named the most valuable player of the Eastern States Athletic Conference in 1989.
Ish was also a four-year letter-winner in both lacrosse, where she was a regional all-American, as well as and track and field. An outstanding student as well, Ish was nominated for the Hanes "Woman of the Year" Award in 1992.
She came to King's following two years as an assistant field hockey coach at Smith College where she earned her master's degree in exercise and sports studies. In 1993, she helped Coach Smith to a 15-3 record and a second-place finish in the Division III National Tournament.
A native of Hamburg, NJ, Ish a graduate of Walkill Valley High School where she earned New Jersey Group 2 all-state field hockey honors as a senior.
Ish is a member of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, the National Athletic Directors Association, and the United States Women's Lacrosse Association. She also serves on a number of committees in the MAC as well as on the King’s College campus.
In 2002, Ish received a high honor when she was inducted into the
Salisbury University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Updated 6/16/2014
