Wilkes University’s Director of
Athletics, Addy Malatesta, is set to retire
in June 2023 after 34 years of commitment
to the Colonels.
“Addy has been a dedicated fixture
for Wilkes athletics over the past four
decades,” said Jonathan Drach, head
football coach. “Her care and support
for student athletes and sta has set the
tone and culture for a high functioning
athletic department.

Before spending the last 23-years as
the athletic director, Malatesta started
her tenure at Wilkes as the head coach
for the field hockey team for 14-years.
She led the Colonels to an overall record
of 140-113-9 and guided the team to the
NCAA Division III championships in the
1995 season. In 1999, Malatesta led the
Colonels to win their rst-ever Middle
Atlantic Conference (MAC) crown.

Malatesta also served as the head
softball coach from 1990-1994 and

guided the Colonels to an overall five-
year record of 60-52-1 while appearing

in both the MAC and Eastern College
Athletic Conference (ECAC) playoffs.
“It is hard for me to choose my best
moment in my 34-years at Wilkes,” said
Malatesta. “I share great memories with
the women that I coached at Wilkes. It
was less about the championship titles
and more about the relationships and
unwavering support we had for each
other that created our unforgettable
experiences.”
Malatesta is proud to have played a
role in the sport sponsorship expansion
and capital projects that will benefit
student athletes for years to come.
In the past 10 years alone, Malatesta

has overseen a multitude of projects.
One of these projects included the
renovation of the Ralston Athletic
Complex, which added a field turf
playing surface along with Musco Sport
Lighting system, a new bleacher system
and a press box. This renovation also
repaired six all-weather tennis courts
located at the complex as well as an
expansion of the Munson Field House
by adding new locker rooms and an
athletic training facility.
In 2018, Malatesta was the leading
role when Wilkes partnered with
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins,
located at the Toyota SportsPlex at
Coal Street Park. This partnership
was able to land the ice hockey team a
home rink. Renovations took place as
she oversaw the construction of men’s
and women’s locker rooms that were
solely dedicated for the university’s ice

hockey teams.
“Addy has been one of the pillars of
Wilkes athletics for as long as anyone
can remember,” said graduate student
Phil Erickson. “Her name has been
synonymous with the success that the
Wilkes Colonels have had throughout
her prestigious career. On a personal
note, our hockey program would have
never come to fruition without her
hard work and pursuit of excellence.”
The Bruggeworth Field was one of
Malatesta’s most recent projects. The
renovations included a turf field that
is used for men’s and women’s soccer,
men’s and women’s lacrosse and field
hockey. Enhancements were made for
two new press boxes, two spectator
areas and a scoreboard.
Malatesta stated that she will miss
the day-to-day interactions with the
members of the athletic staff and

athletic trainers.
“They became my new team when I
retired from coaching,” said Malatesta.
Malatesta plans to spend her
retirement traveling, attending athletic
events at her own leisure and being
with her family.
Mark Allen, interim vice president
for student affairs, will lead the search
for the University’s next director of
athletics. The university has engaged
executive search firm Spelman Johnson
to assist with the process and a
committee of faculty, staff and students
will be assembled soon.
The goal is to have a new athletic
director by Fall 2023.
“I look forward to her continued
leadership in the coming months as
she concludes her career,” said Dr. Greg
Cant, Wilkes University president.