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Gunning Announces Retirement after Distinguished Career Leading Marywood Athletics

Scranton, Pa. – Marywood University Director of Athletics and Recreation Dr. Mary Jo Gunning, who has led the Athletic Department for 29 years, has announced her retirement effective June 1, 2019. In over 30 years altogether with the department, Dr. Gunning oversaw the expansion and emergence of the University's intercollegiate athletic and recreation programs from five to 22 varsity athletic programs.

"Serving Marywood as a proud alumnae in the role of Director of Athletics and Recreation has been a great privilege and life mission," Dr. Gunning said. "The institution's core values are the foundation of our sports programs and recreation initiatives.  Our student-athletes are empowered not only to be successful in competitive venues but also in the classroom, community service avenues and as individuals of value."

"I have had the pleasure to be guided by excellent Presidents, Administrators and mentors as role models and work with effective coaches and staff," she added. "I am confident their leadership will continue to empower our students and the Pacer sports program. I hope my past role will help facilitate this pathway to continue. I am so thankful to many and primarily the great institution known as Marywood."  

18777From 1992 through the end of the 2017-18 academic year, Marywood athletics was a charter member of the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC - formerly known as the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference). Dr. Gunning was one of the founding members when the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference was formed in 1992.

Most recently, Dr. Gunning led the Pacers in the transition to the newly formed Atlantic East Conference, in which they began competition this academic year. She was also instrumental in Marywood becoming members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) in 2010, providing Marywood teams more post-season playoff opportunities.  

"Dr. Gunning has been the driving force behind Marywood athletics for nearly three decades, overseeing a period of tremendous development in the athletics and recreation area," said Ann Boland-Chase, Vice President for Enrollment Services and Student Success, whose department oversees athletics. "In addition to her duties at Marywood, Dr. Gunning has shared her expertise by serving on NCAA Division III committees and as past president of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference and is well-respected among her peers. We will miss Dr. Gunning, but her contributions will continue to positively affect Marywood student-athletes for years to come. I wish her a long and happy retirement."

Through the 2017-18 academic year, Marywood teams captured CSAC championships and earned 45 runner-up finishes. In addition, women's golf won the inaugural Landmark Conference Championship in 2018, bringing the Pacers total of conference titles to 41. Women's Soccer won the ECAC South Region Championship in 2010, the school's only post-season tournament championship.

In 2010-11, for the first time in athletics program history, Marywood earned all three CSAC President's Cups, sweeping the competition for the Overall, Men's and Women's Awards. The President's Cup is awarded annually by the conference to the Men's, Women's and Overall athletics programs with the highest competitive percentage rating, based on championship finish and regular season play. That academic year, the Pacers took home the conference championships in men's tennis and women's cross country while finishing runner-up in women's lacrosse, men's lacrosse, men's cross country and men's soccer. Marywood won the Women's President's Cup again in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2016-17, and finished second overall in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15. 

"Mary Jo Gunning richly deserves acknowledgment and praise as she finishes her exceptional career at Marywood" said retired Vice President of Student Life Dr. Ray Heath, Gunning's supervisor for the majority of her career. "The major growth of the intercollegiate athletics program – sports sponsored; facilities constructed; coaches and staff appointed and supervised; and, polices developed – under her supervision enhanced the university in many ways. A consummate professional, she was always well prepared, attentive to every detail, trustworthy and loyal. Most importantly, she knew well the challenges faced by Division III athletes, coaches, staff, parents and fans and responded with sensitivity and understanding. The ultimate testimony to her impact is the highest level of professional and personal respect she earned from local and national colleagues combined with the admiration and high regard of the many student-athlete alumni she influenced so positively."

Through the 2017-18 academic year, 1,498 Marywood student-athletes have earned All-Conference (CSAC and Landmark) honors, including 446 First Team, 437 Second Team, 21 Third Team (new in 2015-17 for Track & Field only), 380 Honorable Mention and 214 All-Sportsmanship selections. Twenty-two (22) athletes have been recognized as the Player of the Year for their respective sports. Ten Cross Country runners (three male, seven female) won the individual championships, and three golfers won medalist honors. Forty-eight student-athletes have been lauded as Regional All-Americans, while 10 athletes have earned National All-American status. Pacers' coaches have also been awarded Conference Coach of the Year honors an impressive 54 times.

Equally important to Dr. Gunning is all of the athletic honors Pacer student-athletes received during her tenure. Her leadership resulted in over 2,600 Marywood student-athletes earning All-Conference Academic Honor Roll status (minimum 3.2 GPA). In addition, three athletes earned CoSIDA National Academic All-American status, 13 athletes  earned CoSIDA Regional Academic All-American status, seven athletes were named the Conference's Scholar Athlete of the Year, and three more have earned NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarships. Various coaches' organizations have recognized 128 athletes as National Academic Honorees and another nine athletes as Regional Academic Honorees. Marywood also earned the CSAC Institutional Excellence Award in 2014-15 and 2015-16 for having the highest GPA as an athletic department across the CSAC. Marywood has had 23 teams earn the CSAC Team Academic Award (highest GPA per competing sport), the most since the award was introduced in the 2013-14 academic year.

Gunning has also overseen a massive expansion of Marywood's athletic facilities during her tenure.  The $14 million Center for Athletics and Wellness offers state-of-the-art fitness, recreation, and athletic opportunities and includes a premier fitness center, a climbing wall, an elevated running track, a dance/aerobic studio, an arena to showcase Pacer Sports, and high tech athletic training areas.  Outdoor athletic facilities include six tennis courts, a sand volleyball court and basketball courts.  The baseball and softball fields are some of the finest in the region and the multipurpose natural grass field has undergone a major renovation which includes laser-leveling, an irrigation system and new grass mixture.  The lit synthetic turf facility received new turf in the summer of 2017 and is utilized by many outdoor sports, as well as recreation programs. A $5 million plus Aquatic Center opened in May 2011.  It is an eight-lane facility with 3-  and 1-meter boards, inclusive of team rooms, a safety center and spectator area. 

Prior to taking over her current position, Dr. Gunning was active in Marywood athletics as an intern in conjunction with the University of Scranton, assisting with athletic administration in addition to aiding the revision of the Health and Physical Education curriculum.  She has also served as a graduate assistant in Physical Education at Temple University and as the Recreation Director and Activities Assistant at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, as well as an Exercise Physiologist at Warminster General Hospital in Warminster, Pa.

An active leader in both her profession and community, Dr. Gunning's memberships include, among others, the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors, and the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators.  Formerly the president of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference, Gunning has previously served on numerous NCAA Division-wide and Division III committees, including, among others, with leadership roles on the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee, the Division III Management Council, the Division III Infractions Committee and the Division III Legislative Committee. 

Dr. Gunning earned a B.A. in Health and Physical Education from Marywood in 1979, and obtained her M.A. in Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine from the University of Maryland in 1981.  In 1991, Dr. Gunning completed her Ed.D. in Sports Administration at Temple University. She was named Temple University's Administrator/Alumni of the Year in 2007 by its School of Sports Administration and Hospitality. She resides in Lake Ariel with her husband Rick MacGregor.

A national search to find Dr. Gunning's successor will be conducted in the spring. No applications will be accepted until that time.

 
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