Branford Field Hockey Coaching Legend Cathy McGuirk Dies At 76

BRANFORD, CT — Cathy McGuirk, who coached Branford High School field hockey to 10 state championships during a 41-year career, died Monday. She was 76.

McGuirk had announced last spring that she was battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known at Lou Gehrig's disease.

The Hornets made the Class M championship game on 14 occasions, winning 10 times, including a stretch of six titles in seven years from 1985 to 1991.

McGuirk retired following the 2017 campaign with a career record of 558-129-64-12. Her teams set an unprecedented mark by qualifying for state tournament play for 40 consecutive seasons.

She has been inducted into seven halls of fame, most recently the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018. She was named National Field Hockey Coach of the Year in 1994, and was awarded the prestigious Gold Key Award by the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance in 2014. She and her husband John, who was her assistant coach for most of her tenure, were honored by the Branford school district in 2019 with the dedication of the Cathy & John McGuirk Field Hockey Field.

Branford principal Lee Panagoulias said, "Cathy was a great mentor and role model to many, many of our students. Her impact on our students extends well beyond the field, impacting the development of her players' core values, work ethic and capacity to lead."

"We are heartbroken that Cathy passed away," Branford Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez said. "She was an incredible force and her spirit will always live on. The impact she had on our student-athletes was profound, and her biggest success was not the amazing teams she coached; rather, it was the genuine relationships and bonds she created. Cathy will never be forgotten. Our prayers go out to her beloved husband, John and the entire McGuirk family."

Longtime Enfield High School coach Cookie Bromage was a teammate of McGuirk at Southern Connecticut State College, then had some memorable games as coaching rivals in the 1980s and 1990s.

"Cathy was a wonderful person and a wonderful coach," Bromage told Patch. "She was a very caring individual who was wonderful with her kids and was great for the sport. We had some great games against each other."

Guilford coach Kitty Palmer said, "The many times we played head to head against Cathy, were what competition should be. Clean, hard fought battles, with respect and sportsmanship throughout. Cathy had the model program, and we all wanted to be as successful as she and Branford. With John, she earned the love of her players, and the determination to succeed. Field hockey was her life, and we all are privileged to have coached on the same field as her."

"Cathy was the epitome of excellence with both teaching and coaching in the Branford school system," North Branford coach Babby Nuhn said. "Her students and athletes were everything to her. To say she is a legend is an understatement! Her victories were more than just wins on a scoreboard - each and every one represented the terrific players she mentored all of her years on and off the field. Yes she has accomplished so many awesome wins, titles, halls of fame, and many other awards. But it was just knowing Cathy that surpasses everything else. She was kind, genuine, straightforward - a friend to all. She and John were inseparable. They made it happen together."

Teri Giordano Vollero wrote on Facebook, "You were an inspiration to all, especially to the younger generation of coaches and P.E. teachers. You showed us how to do it right."

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