Meghan Morphy named Director of Athletics
Meghan Morphy, currently Gannon University’s associate director of Athletics for Budget and Planning in addition to serving as the senior woman administrator, will be the school’s next director of Athletics.
Morphy brings more than a decade of experience within Gannon’s athletic department, having served as head coach of the competitive cheer and dance program before transitioning into administrative roles.
“We are thrilled to promote Meghan Morphy to director of Athletics,” said Walter Iwanenko, Ph.D., Gannon University president. “Her dedication to our student-athletes and her comprehensive understanding of our athletic programs make her the ideal leader for this next chapter.”
Her appointment is effective June 20.
Morphy succeeds Lisa Goddard McGuirk, who has been director of Athletics since 2014. Goddard McGuirk is departing to assume the role of director of Athletics at Fort Hays State University in Kansas.
Under Goddard McGuirk’s leadership, Gannon Athletics achieved extraordinary success, including a 19th-place finish in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings ⎯ Gannon’s highest finish ever in the NCAA Division II all-sports competition ⎯ and multiple PSAC championships. Gannon has also won two of the last three Dixon Trophies (PSAC) and are in first place in the current standings during Goddard McGuirk’s tenure.
Morphy built the competitive cheer and dance program from a single all-girl team with 13 student-athletes to one with four teams — all-girl, coed, game day, and dance — and nearly 80 student-athletes. She moved into an administrative role in 2019-20, serving in the newly created position of coordinator of operations.
She assisted with the department’s business operations, as well as compliance and student-athlete development efforts while holding sport administrator duties for the acrobatics and tumbling and competitive cheer and dance teams.
Morphy was promoted to assistant director of Athletics for Budget and Planning and the department’s senior woman administrator in July 2020. Her duties included overseeing all financial reports, department budgets, team travel and ticket sales.
“I’m honored to lead our Golden Knights as the next director of Athletics and am grateful for the support of President Iwanenko and Dr. Ewing as I look ahead to this new endeavor,” Morphy said. “Our student-athletes, coaches and staff are truly exceptional and are committed to excellence in athletics, academics and service. I’m grateful for the strong foundation established by Lisa Goddard McGuirk and the support of our campus and greater community as we continue to raise the standard as a premier Division II athletics program.”
Goddard McGuirk’s tenure at Gannon was marked by significant achievements, including the expansion of athletic programs and enhanced student-athlete support services. Academically, Gannon has developed a record number of scholar athletics as the student athletes recorded a cumulative GPA to 3.497 in the 2024-25 athletic season, under Goddard McGuirk’s leadership. Additionally, Gannon also had 100 student athletes with a 4.0 GPA this semester.
In addition, Goddard McGuirk spearheaded extensive renovations to Gannon’s Highmark Events Center, McConnell Family Stadium, as well as major renovations to the Gannon University Recreation and Wellness Center’s aquatic facility, Carneval Athletic Pavilion.
Gannon University extends its deepest gratitude to Lisa Goddard McGuirk for her years of dedicated service and congratulates Meghan Morphy on her well-deserved promotion.
