General | January 28, 2015

PHILADELPHIA – Long-time women's athletic administrator and all-time winningest field hockey coach Kathy (Wear) McNally is being honored with the Mary O'Connor Award at this year's National Girls & Women In Sports Day luncheon, set for Tuesday, February 3, in the Union Ballroom.
 
McNally spent 22 years at 20^th and Olney. She was hired by then-women's athletics coordinator Mary O'Connor in 1976 as the head field hockey coach, and then succeeded O'Connor upon her passing in 1977 as the Assistant Athletic Director/Coordinator of Women's Athletics.
 
McNally spent four seasons on the field hockey sidelines from 1976-79 and compiled a program record .679 win percentage and 43-18-9 record. Her 1976 squad went 5-6-2, a marked improvement over the 2-9 record the year prior to her arrival. Her 1977 squad doubled that win total, going 10-5-1. La Salle field hockey reached new heights in 1978, going 13-2-2 overall and reaching the AIAW playoffs. In 1979, the squad advanced to the AIAW national championship tournament and went 4-1 in the tournament to place fifth in the nation.
 
McNally relinquished her field hockey duties after the 1979 season to concentrate full time on her expanding administrative duties, which included overseeing La Salle's eight women's varsity sports. One of her first responsibilities at that point was hiring Joan Broderick to take over the field hockey program. Between her hiring of Broderick and the strides the team made in her four years on the sidelines, she set the program up for its greatest achievement in program history – winning the 1980 national championship title.
 
By the time she left La Salle, she was helping direct administrative and operational aspects of all 24 varsity sports. She was hired in January 1998 as the first female athletic director at Gannon University in Erie, Pa., and later moved on to the University of Hawaii-Hilo as its first female athletic director.
 
When McNally came to La Salle, she was no stranger to athletics. The 1969 West Chester graduate was a three-sport athlete, competing in field hockey, lacrosse and swimming. Upon graduation, she taught physical education for a few years at Paul VI High School in Haddon Twp., N.J., and then at Collingwood High School from 1972 until her full-time administrative hire in 1977. 

Tuesday's celebration will begin at 12:40 pm in the Union Ballroom. To RSVP click here.