There will be some new — and some familiar — faces leading Ithaca College teams in 2022-23, as several programs said goodbye to head coaches over the past year.
Men’s lacrosse will have a new head coach for the first time in nearly four decades, with Tommy Pearce replacing Jeff Long, who retired after 36 years at the helm of the program.
Pearce comes to South Hill after spending the past five years as the head coach at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. Pearce was the first coach at Allegheny as the Gators officially began competition in 2020.
“I can’t wait to join the campus community on South Hill and begin preparing with the team for the 2024 season,” said Pearce. “I look forward to honoring the tradition of excellence in athletics and men’s lacrosse at IC as well as Coach Long’s legacy by competing for conference and national championships year in and year out.”
The men’s and women’s tennis programs welcomed Tom Rishcoff to South Hill this past June. Rishcoff joins the Bombers after a stint as the assistant women’s tennis coach at Middlebury College during the 2022-23 season. He replaces Chris Hayes ’16, who had served as head coach for the previous three seasons.
“Ithaca College has a rich tradition of success in athletics as well as academics,” he said. “With great enthusiasm, I look forward to joining this esteemed institution and leading a talented group of student-athletes towards new heights on and off the court.”
A familiar face will be in a new role for the men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs this season.
Mike Blakely-Armitage ’00 was named the next head coach of the programs, following the retirement of head coach Kevin Markwardt, who had spent 42 years on South Hill. Blakely-Armitage was in the midst of his second stint as an associate head coach.
Prior to his return to South Hill, Blakely-Armitage served as the head boys swimming and diving coach at Ithaca High School from 2009 to 2019 as well as the girls head coach from 2015 to 2019.
“It is an honor to be named the head coach for swimming and diving at Ithaca College,” he said. “I am thrilled to be able to lead the Bombers into the next chapter in our historic programs. Our commitment to excellence on South Hill is and will continue to be the standard to which other programs strive for.”
After a one-year stint as interim head softball coach, Kelly Robichaud ’16 has taken over as the sixth coach in program history.
Last season she led the Bombers to a 25-10-1 regular season record and 10-4 mark within the Liberty League. Ithaca finished the season with a 27-12-1 overall record.
“It’s an honor to be appointed the next head coach,” said Robichaud. “I’ve been grateful to have been able to lead and support these young women and am excited to see what we can continue accomplishing together. Ithaca has always held a special place in my heart, and I would like to also thank my predecessors who paved the way before me leading the Bombers with passion and pride.”
During her time as a player at Ithaca, Robichaud played in 144 games, making 142 starts as both a catcher and a utility player. She was named the Empire 8 Player of the Year in 2016.