WILKES-BARRE – Following a 34-year career, including the last 23 as the Wilkes University Athletic Director, Addy Malatesta has announced her retirement from the University.

"It is important for me to acknowledge everyone that shared the milestones throughout my forty-eight year career in athletics, starting with my family and friends who continue to support and encourage me," Malatesta said.

Among her most notable honors, Malatesta was the recipient of the Board of Governors Award in 1994, the Ancestral Colonels "Esprit de Corps" award in 2008 and received the Wilkes President's Award for Excellence in 2016.
 
Malatesta has overseen multiple renovations to the University's athletic facilities during her career including the current full renovation of the Henry Gymnasium in the Marts Center which includes a new playing surface, bleachers, LED lighting, paint, scoreboards, and sound system. She is also currently overseeing the installation of new turf at Schmidt Stadium and hard-wired internet in the softball press box.
 
Under her guidance, the athletics program has grown to encompass twenty-three varsity teams with over five hundred and fifty student-athletes.
 
"The entire Wilkes University community has benefited from Addy's leadership, and I know many of her former players and colleagues rely on her guidance and sound judgement today," Wilkes University President Dr. Greg Cant said. "Few athletics administrators enjoy a career as full and rewarding as Addy has here at Wilkes, and we will remain forever grateful for the impact she has made on our programs, facilities and, most importantly, our student-athletes. We wish her all the best upon her retirement and always."  
 
She was instrumental in directing the renovation of the Ralston Athletic Complex, which included a Field Turf playing surface in the multi-purpose Schmidt Stadium along with a Musco Sports Lighting system, new bleacher system and Press Box. The renovation also included upgrades to six all-weather tennis courts at the complex, the installation of the George Ralston plaque, considered "the father" of Wilkes athletics, and an expansion of the Munson Field House to include new locker rooms and an athletic training facility.
 
In 2018, Malatesta took the lead when Wilkes partnered with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins calling its home ice the Toyota SportsPlex at Coal Street Park. She supervised the construction of the men and women's locker rooms and an athletic training room dedicated solely for the men and women's ice hockey teams at Wilkes.

In the summer of 2019, Malatesta oversaw the construction of Bruggeworth Field at the Ralston Athletic Complex a state of the art multi-purpose turf field for men's and women's soccer, men's and women's lacrosse, field hockey and baseball. Enhancements at Bruggeworth also included two press boxes, two spectator areas, a scoreboard and new perimeter fencing surrounding the entire complex. 
 
"I am grateful to Paul Adams for his guidance and for so many mentors who have provided me with the opportunities to learn and grow professionally," Malatesta stated. "It was my privilege to work side by side with Phil Wingert and the athletic staff. They work tirelessly to place the highest priority on offering a quality student-athlete experience."

Throughout her career, Malatesta has served as an Operations committee member for the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) and a Sports Chair.  At Wilkes, her committee work includes the search committee for Vice President Finance & General Council and the Director of Admissions.  She was a member of the Campus Master Planning committee, the Strategic Planning committee and the President's Advisory committee.  As a member of Senior Staff, Malatesta was on the Student Affairs Case Review team, the Student Affairs judicial committee and served as a Title IX Hearing Officer. Additionally she has been the co-chair of the University's Athletics Hall of Fame committee.
 
"Addy is a person of impeccable integrity who takes great pride in her work and always had the breadth of perspective to understand and faithfully work in support of the mission of Wilkes University," retired Wilkes University Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Paul Adams said. "Her title as Director of Athletics will never come close to describing her value to Wilkes's students, faculty, staff, and alumni; she is the consummate educator and mentor."
 
Malatesta was the chairperson for the MAC Field Hockey Games committee. She has also served on the NCAA Division III Regional Field Hockey Selection and All-American committees, and had a three-year stint as chairperson of the NCAA Division III National Softball committee. For her dedicated service to the MAC, Malatesta received the 2019 MAC Lou Sorrentino Award, presented to the MAC athletics administrator who has had a sustained and influential role in conference and national affairs and embodies the NCAA Division III philosophy.

As the head field hockey coach at Wilkes from 1989 to 2002, Malatesta led the Colonels to a record of 140-113-9.  With Malatesta at the helm, her teams marked eight seasons with 10 or more wins and she is the program's all-time winningest coach. Malatesta was twice named the conference coach of the year, in 1993 as the MAC Coach of the Year and in 1999 as the Freedom League Coach of the Year. She coached multiple players named to National All-American teams and All-Region teams, six conference Most Valuable Player award winners along with 53 total all-conference selections including six All-MAC Northwest League members (1989-92), 35 All-Freedom League members (1993-99), and 12 All-Freedom Conference members (2000-02).
 
"My most memorable experiences are the times spent with my teams," Malatesta commented. "Success aside, the valued relationships with players and assistant coaches like MJ Hromchak (field hockey) and Tom Dunsmuir (softball) last a lifetime."

The Colonels won the Freedom Conference championship five times under Malatesta in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1999 and were ECAC Mid-Atlantic Champions three times in 1993, 1994, and 1996. In 1999, the Colonels finished with an overall record of 14-8, winning the Freedom Conference title and capturing Wilkes' first-ever MAC field hockey crown. During the 1995 season, Malatesta guided the Colonels to the NCAA Division III championships, in a season when the Colonels were ranked as high as 11th in the country.
 
"I cannot think of anyone better to have coached with during Addy's coaching days," said Mary Jo (MJ) Hromchak former Wilkes assistant field hockey coach, Class of 1980 graduate, and Wilkes Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee. "I consider myself so lucky for the two of us to have walked the sideline together. From that sideline we laughed, we yelled (I yelled) we cheered, we spectated watching every player give their very best for each other and for us. From that same sideline, I watched Addy give her all for them. There was no screaming, no yelling, no demanding, no demeaning. There was simply a matter-of- fact expectation to get things done right. There was a calm, cool and collected response when things weren't going well. There was always an encouraging word and an affirmation that she was always on their side, no matter what. Ask any player who played for Addy, they would speak of her with the utmost respect and adoration. They would tell you how much fun they had, how inspired they were to work hard every day, and how much hockey means to them even still. They would also tell you how much Addy meant to them. Ask me and I will tell you the same. I can never thank her enough for the impact she made on me and how she inspired me to be a better coach. We had the best time. We made the best memories. We became trusted friends. The day I was told that she was appointed Athletic Director was bittersweet, our sideline days ended but I knew of course she was the best and perfect candidate for the job. After all, she was and will always be simply the best."
 
Malatesta also coached softball for five years at Wilkes, guiding the Colonels to a record of 60-52-1 from 1990 to 1994 with appearances in the MAC tournament in 1994 and ECAC tournament in 1992. The 1994 team was 17-6 which was the second most wins in program history up to that point. Malatesta coached 10 All-MAC Northwest League members from 1990-1993 and five All-Freedom League Members in 1994.
 
"I attribute my longevity as a coach and administrator to my willingness to never stop learning, to respect differing points of view and find the most amicable solution to move us forward," Malatesta remarked.  

A graduate of Slippery Rock University, Malatesta also holds a master's degree in Education from East Stroudsburg University.