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{{Short description|College basketball coach (b. 1947)}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Cathy Rush
| image = 
| alt = 
| caption = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|4|7}}
| birth_place = [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], U.S.
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| alma_mater = [[West Chester University]]
| coach_years1 = 1972–1977
| coach_team1 = [[Immaculata University|Immaculata]]
| overall_record = 149–15
| bowl_record = 
| tournament_record = 
| championships = 3 [[Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women|AIAW]] National (1972–1974)
| awards = 
| coaching_records = 
| BASKHOF_year = 2008
| CFBHOF_id = 2000
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's [[Basketball]]}}
{{MedalSport|Head coach for {{USA}} }}    {{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}    {{MedalGold|[[USA Women's Pan American Team|1975 Mexico City, Mexico]] | Team Competition}}
}}

'''Cathy Rush''' (born '''Cathy Cowan'''; April 7, 1947) is a former basketball coach at [[Immaculata University|Immaculata]] from 1972 to 1977.  She led Immaculata to three consecutive [[Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women|AIAW]] national titles from [[AIAW Champions#Basketball|1972–1974]].  She led the [[Immaculata University#Athletics|Mighty Macs]] to six consecutive final four appearances in her six seasons with the school, attaining a 149–15 record.<ref>"Hall of Fame honors former Immaculata coach Cathy Rush." ''[[Philadelphia Daily News]]'', April 7, 2008. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20080407_Hall_of_Fame_honors_former_Immaculata_coach_Cathy_Rush.html</ref>  Rush was inducted into the [[Basketball Hall of Fame]] on April 7, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-04-07 |title=Ewing, Hakeem, Riley top hoops HOF class |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=3333987 |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>  She had also been inducted to the [[Women's Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2000 and the [[Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2005.

A resident of [[Ventnor City, New Jersey]], Rush grew up in [[Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey]] and graduated from [[Oakcrest High School]] in 1964.<ref>Lulgjuraj, Susan. [http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/the-mighty-macs-based-on-ventnor-s-cathy-rush-set/article_2d7069f8-73d8-51b2-a41c-09b9a5458e12.html "'The Mighty Macs,' based on Oakcrest High grad Cathy Rush, set for release today"], ''[[The Press of Atlantic City]]'', October 21, 2011. Accessed October 28, 2011. "Cathy Rush invited friends to her home in Ventnor a couple of years ago to watch an advance copy of the movie ''The Mighty Macs.''...Rush, a native of West Atlantic City in Egg Harbor Township, saw the filming of this movie.... 'My stomach dropped,' said Rush, a 1964 Oakcrest High School graduate. 'It was the most disconcerting thing because it was real.'"</ref> She received a Bachelor of Science in 1968 and a master's degree in education in 1972, both from [[West Chester University of Pennsylvania|West Chester University]].<ref name="Hawkes 139">{{harvnb|Hawkes|2000|p=139}}</ref> She has two children with her ex-husband, former [[National Basketball Association]] referee and Supervisor of Officials [[Ed T. Rush]].<ref name="Hawkes 138">{{harvnb|Hawkes|2000|p=138,142}}</ref>

''[[The Mighty Macs]]'', a movie about the season leading to the winning of the [[AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament#1972 tournament|first women's national basketball championship]] in 1972, was released in October 2011. Rush is played by [[Carla Gugino]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.themightymacs.com/ |title=The Mighty Macs  |work=themightymacs.com |access-date=26 August 2011}}</ref>

==Early life==
Rush was born in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]] on April 7, 1947, to John and Alice Cowan.<ref name="Porter 411">{{harvnb|Porter|2005|p=411}}</ref> She grew up in [[Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey]],<ref name="Hometown"/> a township with over 40,000 residents in 2010, but approximately 5,000 when she was in elementary school. Her elementary school consisted of two rooms, with a single teacher for each room. One room housed the first through third grades, while the other room was for the fourth through sixth grades.<ref name="Hawkes 139"/>

When she reached eighth grade, Rush began playing basketball in the [[Six-on-six basketball]] style. Her scoring average was 30 points per game, which earned her the nickname "Big Gun", and she helped earn a position at the county tournament.<ref name="Hawkes 139"/>

In her freshman year, she attended the brand new [[Oakcrest High School]]. She played basketball for the high school team, and despite being a freshman, won the county scoring title. However, when she became a sophomore, she learned that the school had dropped interscholastic sports for girls. At the same time, a new teacher arrived with gymnastics experience. The teacher started a gymnastics team, and Rush threw herself into gymnastics. She was appointed team captain, and specialized in the trampoline. Although not an interscholastic activity, the team toured and put on halftime shows and demonstrations.<ref name="Hawkes 139"/> Rush graduated from the high school in 1964.<ref name="Hometown"/>

==College==
Rush decided to attend [[West Chester University|West Chester State College]] in nearby Pennsylvania, majoring in physical education. She played on the basketball team for the first two years, but when the basketball coach left, she dropped basketball and switched to gymnastics.<ref name="Hawkes 139"/> She graduated in 1968.<ref name="Quad"/>

==Coaching—high school and junior high==
After college, she accepted a coaching position at [[Springfield High School (Pennsylvania)|Springfield High School]] in [[Delaware County, Pennsylvania]].<ref name="High School"/> This was not a permanent position, as she was filling in for a teacher who was on sabbatical. Rush taught classes, while coaching the basketball, lacrosse and field hockey teams. When the teacher on sabbatical returned, she accepted a position at General Wayne Junior High in  [[Malvern, Pennsylvania]]. She taught physical education and health classes during her two-year stay at the school.<ref name="General Wayne"/><ref name="Hawkes 140">{{harvnb|Hawkes|2000|p=140}}</ref>

==Marriage==
[[Ed T. Rush]] also attended West Chester University, but graduated in 1964,<ref name="Ed T. Rush bio"/> the year before Cathy arrived. They met on a date, at a basketball game in the [[Palestra]].<ref name="People"/> Cathy was a freshman at the time. They resumed dating two years later, and were married on June 1, 1968.<ref name="Porter 411"/><ref name="Hawkes 142">{{harvnb|Hawkes|2000|p=142}}</ref>

==Immaculata==
While Rush was at General Wayne Junior High, the coaching opportunity became available at Immaculata, an all-girls Catholic school with an enrollment of 400 students.<ref name="age"/> The job came with some challenges—the gym had burned down and there were no plans to replace it, so all games had to be away games.<ref name="Georgia Bulletin"/><ref name="Commemorative"/> The salary was $450 per year and the school only had one basketball.<ref name="Georgia Bulletin"/> Rush was only 22, barely older than the players she would be coaching.<ref name="age"/> The five starting players were all commuters, driving to school for classes and practice.<ref name="NYT Starters"/> Yet Rush saw the positives, "It seemed like the perfect job&nbsp;– low key, no pressure, and a way to stay busy during the winter while my husband, Ed, was traveling."<ref name="Commemorative"/> In addition to changes for Rush, the game was changing. The 1970–71 season was the first year of five player teams and the 30 second shot clock.<ref name="Hult 429">{{harvnb|Hawkes|2000|p=429}}</ref>

Practices were informal—Rush brought her two young boys, still toddlers, to practice.<ref name="Watford"/> her husband Ed, jokes, "That's the Immaculata fastbreak: good defense, rebound, outlet pass, and then dodge the kids on the way up the court."<ref name="People"/> Rush was pleasantly surprised at the skill level of her players, and told her husband, an NBA referee, that "I have some players". He condescendingly responded, "Oh, yes, dear. Of course you do."<ref name="Beginning"/> One of her strongest players was [[Theresa Shank]] (who would go on to a coaching career that earned her a spot in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame). Shank was a six-foot center, who started the same year as Rush. The team started out with an 8–0 record. In their ninth game, Shank and Maureen Mooney didn't show up. They didn't have a charter bus, or even a school bus, so the players drove themselves to games. Shank and Mooney were car-pooling. When they didn't arrive for warm ups, Rush was initially angry, but as time passed, she became concerned. Just before the start of the game, the two arrived, announcing they had been in an auto accident. Mooney was shaken up, but Shank broke her collarbone. She was out for the season, and the team went 2–2 for their remaining four games.<ref name="Commemorative"/><ref name="Beginning"/>

==First championship==
The following year, the new gym in Alumnae Hall was completed. The team would no longer have to play all of the games as visitors. However, the new gym wasn't large enough to accommodate bleachers, there was only room for a few rows of chairs.<ref name="Commemorative"/> The players were responsible for setting up the chairs before the game and returning them after the game.<ref name="Game format"/>  With Shank now available, the team won all twelve of their regular season games, and earned a spot in the Regional Tournament.

The Regional Tournament format included four games in three days, to reduce the cost of lodging.<ref name="Game format"/> The Immaculata team won their first three games, and in the final game, faced Rush's alma mater, West Chester State. That game wasn't close, with West Chester State winning by 32 points 70–38. The team thought their season was over and headed home. When they arrived home, they were surprised by a welcome home pep rally. They didn't realize that the invitation for the AIAW national tournament would include regular season results—they were invited as the 15th seed of the 16 invited teams.<ref name="Greenberg surprise"/><ref name="Hult 311">{{harvnb|Hawkes|2000|p=311}}</ref> They were one of six teams to lose a game in the regionals, and earn a spot in the first ever [[AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament#1972 Division I tournament|AIAW women's basketball tournament]].<ref name="Beginning"/>

The team had no budget for post-season travel. The team organized raffles to sell toothbrushes to raise enough money for the trip to Illinois State University. They weren't able to raise enough money for all eleven players so only eight players, plus the coach were able to go. Even then, they had to fly stand-by to stretch their meager funds.<ref name="Herald"/> They stayed four to a room and two to a bed, limiting their daily spending to seven dollars for meals.<ref name="Beginning"/>

Their first opponent was [[South Dakota State Jackrabbits|South Dakota State]]. Immaculata won 60–47, to move on to the second round. The next day, they faced Indiana, and won a close game 49–46. Without any time off, they played the semifinal round against [[Mississippi University for Women|MSCW]], who had won the national championship the prior year.<ref name="AIAW winners"/> The following day, they would face West Chester College once again, the team that had beaten them by 32 a few days earlier, and the national runner-up in both 1970 and 1971.<ref name="AIAW winners"/>

Despite Ed's lack of confidence—he cautioned Cathy—"Don't be disappointed ''when'' you lose", the result this time would be different. The Macs won a close game 52–48, and a pregnant Cathy Rush was the head coach of the first AIAW National Champions.<ref name="Hult 311"/><ref name ="undefeated"/> On the trip home, someone arranged to upgrade the team to first class. When they arrived at the airport, the pilot asked the team to stay on the plane—a large crowd had gathered. Rush realized that her low-key job wasn't going to stay that way.<ref name="Game format"/> As happy as they had been to win the game, the magnitude of the event didn't sink in until they came home. Only five fans had managed to travel to the tournament, but there were 500 fans at the airport when they returned.<ref name="Beginning"/><ref name="Fast Facts"/>

Their nickname had been simply "Macs". After the team won the national championship, George Heaslip, the sports editor of the Daily Local News, wrote, "One thing, for sure. They're going to have to change that nickname. No more 'Macs.' How about 'The Mighty Macs'?". The nickname was picked up and the team have been known as the Mighty Macs ever since. The term was used for the title of the movie about their championship run.<ref name="Commemorative"/><ref name="nickname"/>

==Repeat and three-peat==
Rene Muth, later to become [[Rene Portland]], the long-time Penn State women's basketball coach, was on each of the championship teams. Her father owned a hardware store, and provided some buckets which some of the parents and the nuns, banged on with wooden dowels to make noise. This was the beginning of the Bucket Brigade.<ref name="Beginning"/> The team still wore pleated tunics and Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers. Some teams wore tunics, while others wore shorts. The Immaculata team wore tunics until the end of the 1973 season, then switched to a two piece blouse and skirt.<ref name="Beginning"/><ref name="Fast Facts"/>

The Immaculata team again won all their regular season games in the 72–73 season, and earned a spot in the National Tournament. This year, the [[AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament#1973 Division I tournament|tournament]] was hosted by Queens College in New York, making travel easier. The first-round game was against Florida State, which Immaculata won 59–48. The quarter-finals match was against Western Washington, which they won 66–53. They moved on to play their third game in two days in the semi-final against [[Southern Connecticut State University|Southern Connecticut]], one of the premier teams of that era. Southern Connecticut had a twelve-point lead with three minutes to go in the game. The Macs fought back and took the lead, only to have Southern Connecticut tie the game with 26 seconds remaining. Marianne Crawford, the freshman guard for Immaculata, put up a shot, but it was coming off the rim. Theresa Shank saw it, and tipped it in as the buzzer sounded for the two point win, 47–45.<ref name="SI Shank"/>

The win set up the championship between Immaculata and Queens, playing on the Queens home court. The venue had a seating capacity of 3,000,  Some thought the 1972 run had been a fluke, but the repeat performance was convincing fans the Immaculata team was very good. In the championship game, the final score of 59–52 is consistent with a reasonably close game, but the score was 59–37 in the fourth quarter when Rush pulled her starters and the bench players allowed the Queens team to score 15 consecutive points.<ref name="SI Shank"/> The win completed the first undefeated season in US college women's basketball history, and the second consecutive National Championship for Immaculata.<ref name ="undefeated"/><ref name="dynasty"/>

The Immaculata team went on to win an unprecedented third consecutive championship in [[AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament#1974 Division I tournament|the 1974 tournament]]. After winning a ten-point victory over Kansas State, Immaculata had two close games, winning by four points over Indiana, and by two points over William Penn. In the final, Immaculata faced Mississippi State College for Women, but won by 15 points 68–53.

==Subsequent years==
Although Shank, the leading player for the Macs, graduated in 1974, the team continued to play at a high level. In 1975, they again earned a spot in the national tournament, and reached the final game against [[Delta State]], coached by [[Margaret Wade (basketball coach)|Margaret Wade]] and featuring one of the best players in basketball history [[Lusia Harris]].<ref name="Delta"/> The Delta State fans had responded to the Bucket Brigade by acquiring wooden blocks as their own noisemakers. Unfortunately, what started as good fun turned ugly, with tempers flaring and some participants throwing dowels and blocks.<ref name="Hult 314">{{harvnb|Hult|Trekell|1991|p=314}}</ref> When the Immaculata parents, following their tradition, brought their buckets to the game to act as noisemakers, they were met by a court order. Delta State had managed to convince a judge to issue a legal writ to bar noisemakers from the game. Delta State went on to win the game 90–81, to win the first of three consecutive championships.

Immaculata made it all the way to the title game in 1976, but again faced Delta State and again Delta State prevailed, this time 69–64. In 1977 Immaculata played in the consolation game for third place and lost to Tennessee 91–71. Although finishing fourth in the nation was a significant accomplishment, the impact of Title IX was allowing many schools to offer scholarships to the best players. Rush decided to retire to raise her family, and left active coaching with a record of 149-15 for a winning percentage of 91%.

==Notable Firsts==

===First nationally televised game===
The first nationally televised game is played by [[University of Maryland|Maryland]] and [[Immaculata University|Immaculata]] on January 27, 1975. Some sources report that Immaculata won 80–48,<ref name="LAJ"/><ref name="ACC"/><ref name="SI Macs"/> while others report 85–63.<ref name="JoePa timeline"/><ref name="WNBA"/><ref name="NCAA special"/>

===First women's basketball game in Madison Square Garden===
Immaculata played [[Queens College, City University of New York|Queens College]] on February 22, 1975, in front of 11,969 spectators. The arena played [[Helen Reddy]]'s ''[[I Am Woman]]'' as the fans entered the arena. The game was a one-point game late in the game, when a foul and a technical were called against Queens but the wrong Immaculata player went to the line. The momentum swung to Immaculata in the confusion and the Macs won a close game 65–61.<ref name="NCAA special"/><ref name="MSG and crowd"/><ref name="Jenkins History"/><ref name="Return"/><ref name="Hult 361">{{harvnb|Hult|Trekell|1991|pp=361–362}}</ref>

===First women's college team to play outside the US===
Immaculata traveled to Australia in July 1974, playing 18 games over the course of the month-long trip, the first United States college team to play a game outside the United States.<ref name="Australia"/><ref name="Overseas"/>

===First undefeated season===
The 1973 Immaculata team won all twenty of their games, counting the post-season tournament to become the first undefeated college team for a season.<ref name ="undefeated"/><ref name="dynasty"/><!-- the first ref documents the record, the second ref documents that it was the first-->

==USA Basketball Pan American team==
The USA Basketball team had had success in the Pan American games with gold medals in 1955,1959, and 1963, but had come in second place in both 1967 and 1971. In 1975, the team was determined to win the gold, and Cathy Rush was named head coach. One of the leading players on the Pan American team was [[Lusia Harris]], whose Delta State team had beaten Immaculata in the 1975 Championship game, and would do so again in 1976. There were other notable players on the team, such as [[Pat Summitt|Pat Head (Summitt)]], [[Ann Meyers]] and others, as well as a 17-year-old high school player, [[Nancy Lieberman]].<ref name="1975 Pan Am"/>

The games were originally planned for Chile, then Brazil when Chile withdrew the offer to host, and then Mexico City, where they were eventually held in October. The team roster and coaches were identical to the US National team that placed eighth in the World Championships, held a few weeks earlier. That team finished with a disappointing 4–3 record, but lost the three games by a total of nine points.<ref name="1975 WC"/>

The USA's team first opponent was Mexico, a team that finished ahead of the US at the World Championships, and would end up the silver medal-winning in this competition. The USA team beat them 99–65, setting a tone for the event. The USA next beat Canada 75–56. They followed that game with a convincing 116–28 victory over El Salvador. Their following game against Cuba was the only close game, with the USA winning by six points 70–64. The USA team then went on to defeat the Dominican Republic 99–50, and Columbia 74–48. This set up the final with Brazil.<ref name="1975 Pan Am"/>

The team from Brazil had beaten the USA team in the prior three Pan American competitions, and had won the gold medal in two of them. This time, the USA team won easily 74–55, earning the gold medal for the first time in twelve years.<ref name="1975 Pan Am"/>

==Title IX impact==
The passage of Title IX improved the accessibility of women's sports at many schools, where programs had to increase funding for women's team. Ironically, it hurt Immaculata, who could not financially complete with the larger schools. They decided not to issue scholarships, which made it difficult to attract the top talent.<ref name="Hult 318">{{harvnb|Hult|Trekell|1991|p=318}}</ref> Rush said, "All of a sudden girls who would have been coming to Immaculata were going elsewhere...We didn't have a chance with those players."<ref name="Title IX quote"/> Eventually, the school transitioned from Division I to Division III. Rush initially opposed the decision not to offer scholarships, but over time, recognized why the decision was made.<ref name="Beginning"/><ref name="dynasty"/>

==Coaching camps==
Before Rush decided to retire from active coaching, she and her husband Ed started a summer basketball camp. The camp, known originally in 1971 as the Cathy Rush Basketball Camp, was renamed as the Future Stars Camps, which still operates today (as of 2022).<ref name="NCAA special"/> Many notable coaches worked as counselors at some of these camps, including [[Geno Auriemma]] and  [[Muffet McGraw]].<ref name="NCAA special"/>

==Breast cancer survivor==
In 1990, Rush was diagnosed with breast cancer, but she did not want anyone to know. She went through chemotherapy successfully, and went on to become a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society.<ref name="Game format"/><ref name="CCHOF"/>

==Awards and honors==
*  1975 Coach of the gold medal-winning U.S. Women's basketball team at the Pan American games<ref name="1975 Pan Am"/>
* 1987 Inducted into [[Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame]]<ref name="1987 Inductees"/>
* 2000 Inducted into [[Women's Basketball Hall of Fame]]<ref name="WBHOF"/>
* 2000 West Chester University Athletic Hall Of Fame<ref name="WCHOF"/>
* 2008 Inducted into [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]]<ref name="HOF"/>
* 2008 Inducted into Chester County Sports Hall Of Fame<ref name="CCHOF"/>
* 2012 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Award of Merit<ref name="PSAC"/>
* 2012 Lapchick Character Award (named after [[Joe Lapchick]])<ref name="Lapchick Award"/>

==Accomplishments==
* Brought the tiny [[Immaculata University|Immaculata College]] (under 500 students) into the National spotlight with five trips to the championship game of the [[AIAW women's basketball tournament]] in six years, winning three back-to-back titles.
* Compiled a career record of 149 wins and 15 losses&nbsp;— a 91% winning percentage.<ref>[http://www.futurestarscamps.com/cathyrush.html Cathy Rush<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* Coached and directed the 1975 U.S. Women's basketball team at the Pan American games, leading the team to a gold medal finish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=wpag_1975|title=SEVENTH PAN AMERICAN GAMES -- 1975|publisher=USA Basketball|access-date=2009-08-03|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103184157/http://usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=wpag_1975|archive-date=2010-01-03}}</ref>
* Member of the U.S. Olympic Committee of Women's basketball.<ref>[http://www.futurestarscamps.com/basketball.html Future Stars Basketball Camps by Cathy Rush – The Leader in Summer Basketball Camps Since 1971<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* Received Special Achievement Awards from both the New Jersey and Philadelphia Sports Writers' Association.
* 1976—Rush co-authored (with Lawrie Mifflin) a book ''Women's Basketball'' on basketball techniques.<ref name="Porter 411"/> {{ISBN|978-0801587948}}
* 1979—Served as the director of player personnel and promotions for the California Dreams, a member of the [[Women's Professional Basketball League|WPBL]].<ref name="Porter 411"/>

==Current activities==
* Future Stars Camps&nbsp;— Cathy is the founding president of Future Stars. For over 35 years, Future Stars has been conducting basketball, field hockey, soccer, all sport, and sports and arts camps for girls and boys.
*Color Commentating&nbsp;— Cathy has been the color commentator several major networks, including NBC, CBS, CBN, ESPN, PRISM and the Sport Channel.
*Cathy is a breast cancer survivor and a spokesperson for the [[American Cancer Society]].

==Coaching tree==
Seven coaches can trace their background to Cathy Rush:<ref name="Labati"/><ref name="Conway"/>
{|  class="wikitable sortable" <hiddentext>generated with  [[:de:Wikipedia:Helferlein/VBA-Macro for EXCEL tableconversion]]  V1.7<\hiddentext>

!  valign="bottom" width="160"   height="13" | Name
!  width="150" | Current or most recent position
!  width="180" | Location
!  width="190" | Relationship to Rush
!  width="110"  | Years
|-   valign="bottom"
| height="13" | {{sortname|Theresa|Grentz}}
 | Head coach
 | [[Lafayette College]] (retired)
 | Player
 | 1971–1974

|-   valign="bottom"
| height="13" | {{sortname|Marianne|Stanley}}
 | Head coach
 | [[Indiana Fever]]
 | Player
 | 1973–1976
|-   valign="bottom"
| height="13" | {{sortname|Ferne|Labati}}
 | Head coach
 | [[University of Miami]] (retired)
 | Assistant coach
 | 1976–1978
|-   valign="bottom"
| height="13" | {{sortname|Rene|Portland}}
 | Head coach
 | [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]]  (retired)
 | Player
 | 1972–1975
|-   valign="bottom"
| height="13" | {{sortname|Suzie|McConnell-Serio}}
 | Head coach
 | [[University of Pittsburgh]] (retired)
 | Player (for Rene Portland)
 | 1984–1988
|-   valign="bottom"
| height="13" | {{sortname|Nancy|Lieberman}}
 | Assistant coach
 | [[Sacramento Kings]] (retired)
 | Player (for Marianne Crawford Stanley)
 | 1978–1980
|-   valign="bottom"
| height="13" | {{sortname|Anne|Donovan}}
 | Head coach
 | [[Connecticut Sun]] (retired)
 | Player (for Marianne Crawford Stanley)
 | 1979–1983
|}
[[File:Cathy Rush, Coaching Tree.svg|thumb|none|600px|Cathy Rush Coaching Tree]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2|refs=
<ref name="Labati">{{cite news|last=Diperna|first=Jody |title=Seton Hill boasts legendary coach|date= December 24, 2008|url=http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/college/s_604258.html#axzz2BAwi6l5r|newspaper=Trib Live|publisher=Trib Total Media, Inc.|access-date=3 Nov 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Conway">{{cite news|last=AMDUR|first=NEIL |title=A Small-College Link to Women's Game|date=April 7, 2002|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/07/sports/a-small-college-link-to-women-s-game.html|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=3 Nov 2012}}</ref>
https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/07/sports/a-small-college-link-to-women-s-game.html

<ref name="Hometown">{{cite web|last=LULGJURAJ|first=SUSAN |title='The Mighty Macs,' based on Oakcrest High grad Cathy Rush, set for release today|date=21 October 2011 |url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/the-mighty-macs-based-on-ventnor-s-cathy-rush-set/article_2d7069f8-73d8-51b2-a41c-09b9a5458e12.html|publisher=The Press of Atlantic City Media Group|access-date=7 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="People">{{cite web|last=Rein|first=Richard K. |title=Can Coach and Ref Find Happiness Together? Ed & Cathy Rush Manage|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20066229,00.html|work=PEOPLE magazine|publisher= Time Inc|access-date=7 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Quad">{{cite web|last=Heiman|first=Mike |title=West Chester's own basketball hall of famer: Cathy Rush|url=http://www.wcuquad.com/sports/west-chester-s-own-basketball-hall-of-famer-cathy-rush-1.2556277#.UMJ3dXezlr8|work=The Quad|access-date=7 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="General Wayne">{{cite web|last=Kocher|first=Paula |title=East Whiteland Native Remembers Cathy Rush the Gym Teacher|url=http://malvern.patch.com/articles/east-whiteland-native-remembers-cathy-rush-the-gym-teacher|work=MalvernPatch|date=7 November 2011 |access-date=8 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="High School">{{cite web|title=Cathy Rush inspires at Healthy Woman gala|url=https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/2012/05/10/cathy-rush-inspires-at-healthy-woman-gala/|work=Main Line Media News|date=10 May 2012 |publisher=Journal Register Property|access-date=30 Aug 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="Ed T. Rush bio">{{cite web|title=Ed T. Rush, Sr|url=http://www.leading-edge-speaking.com/Speaker_Bios.htm|work=Ed Rush & Associates|access-date=8 Dec 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128032042/http://www.leading-edge-speaking.com/Speaker_Bios.htm|archive-date=28 November 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="Georgia Bulletin">{{cite web|last=WILSON|first=JANE|title=Movie On Early Years Of Women's Basketball Inspires|url=http://www.georgiabulletin.org/local/2011/10/13/themightymacs/|work=The Georgia Bulletin|access-date=8 Dec 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419151257/http://www.georgiabulletin.org/local/2011/10/13/themightymacs/|archive-date=19 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Commemorative">{{cite web|title=Honoring a Legacy of Champions|url=http://www.immaculata.edu/magazine/download/IU-Magazine-Spring11-CommorativeMag.pdf|work=Immaculate Magazine|publisher=Immaculata University|access-date=8 Dec 2012}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

<ref name="NYT Starters">{{cite news|last= LITSKY|first=FRANK|title=COLLEGE BASKETBALL; When Small Schools Ruled Women's Game|date=March 12, 1995|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/12/sports/college-basketball-when-small-schools-ruled-women-s-game.html|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=8 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="age">{{cite web|last=Quinn|first=Brendan|title=She's simply remarkable.|url=http://www.nooga.com/154907/shes-simply-remarkable/|work=Nooga.com|access-date=8 Dec 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004235333/http://www.nooga.com/154907/shes-simply-remarkable/|archive-date=4 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="WBHOF">{{cite web|url=http://www.wbhof.com/inductees.html|title=WBHOF Inductees|publisher=WBHOF|access-date=2009-08-01|archive-date=2017-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206134733/http://www.wbhof.com/Inductees.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="HOF">{{cite web|url=http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/tag/cathy-rush|title=Hall of Famers|publisher=Basketball Hall of Fame|access-date=2009-08-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831072737/http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/tag/cathy-rush|archive-date=2009-08-31}}</ref>

<ref name="1987 Inductees">{{cite web|title=Inductees|url=http://pashof.org/inductees.asp|work=Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame|access-date=8 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="CCHOF">{{cite web|title=CATHY RUSH&nbsp;— NATIONAL CHAMPION WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH|url=http://www.chestercountysportshalloffame.com/cathyrush.htm|work=CHESTER COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME|access-date=8 Dec 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119014917/http://www.chestercountysportshalloffame.com/cathyrush.htm|archive-date=2013-01-19}}</ref>

<ref name="PSAC">{{cite web|title=Cathy Rush To Receive PSAC Award Of Merit From The Conference|url=http://www.wcupagoldenrams.com/news/2012/2/1/WBB_0201121455.aspx?path=gen|publisher=West Chester University|access-date=8 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="WCHOF">{{cite web|title=2000 Hall of Fame Inductees|url=http://www.wcupa.edu/_academics/healthsciences/2000halloffame.asp|publisher=West Chester University|access-date=8 Dec 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108152258/http://www.wcupa.edu/_academics/healthsciences/2000halloffame.asp|archive-date=2013-01-08}}</ref>

<ref name="Watford">{{cite web|last=Watford|first=Jack|title=A Mighty Rush|url=http://www.wbca.org/includes/media/docs/CWB_sept_2011.pdf|work=Coaching Women's Basketball|publisher=Women's Basketball Coaches Association|access-date=8 Dec 2012}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

<ref name="JoePa timeline">{{cite web|title=PSU's JoePa era stretches generations|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2011-11-15/psu%E2%80%99s-joepa-era-stretches-generations|publisher=NCAA.com|access-date=4 Dec 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064724/http://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2011-11-15/psu%E2%80%99s-joepa-era-stretches-generations|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="WNBA">{{cite web|title=The History of Women's Basketball|url=http://www.wnba.com/shock/gens/wnbahistory.html|publisher=WNBA.com|access-date=4 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="LAJ">{{cite news|last= GONZALES|first=PATRICK|title=Lights, Camera, Action|date=January 29, 2005|url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/012905/col_0129050014.shtml|newspaper=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal |access-date=4 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="ACC">{{cite web|last=GINSBURG|first=DAVID|title=First women's college basketball game on national TV was hard sell|url=http://www.theacc.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/012505aaf.html|work=ACC|access-date=4 Dec 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130111093847/http://www.theacc.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/012505aaf.html|archive-date=2013-01-11|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Jenkins History">{{cite web|last=Jenkins |first=Sally |title=History of Women's Basketball |url=http://www.wnba.com/about_us/jenkins_feature.html |publisher=WNBA |access-date=8 Dec 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106144210/http://www.wnba.com/about_us/jenkins_feature.html |archive-date=2013-01-06 }}</ref>

<ref name="Lapchick Award">{{cite web|title=Lapchick Award names 4 recipients|date=20 August 2012 |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8285688/lapchick-character-award-given-4-hall-fame-coaches|publisher=ESPN|access-date=8 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="MSG and crowd">{{cite news|title=NY sports history: Feb. 22, 1975|date=February 21, 2011|url=http://www.newsday.com/news/ny-sports-history-feb-22-1975-1.2704205|newspaper=Long Island Newsday|access-date=8 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Australia">{{cite web|title=MIGHTY MACS FAST FACts|url=http://www.immaculata.edu/mightymacsthemovie/downloads/IU-MightyMacsFastFacts.pdf|publisher=Immaculata University|access-date=8 Dec 2012}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

<ref name="Overseas">{{cite web|title=Grentz, Portland share ties with Immaculata|url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu:8080/archive/1999/01/01-22-99tdc/01-22-99dsports-1.asp|work=The Daily Collegian|date=January 22, 1999|access-date=8 Dec 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130106121547/http://www.collegian.psu.edu:8080/archive/1999/01/01-22-99tdc/01-22-99dsports-1.asp|archive-date=January 6, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="Return">{{cite web|title=The Immaculata Mighty Macs Return to the Famous Madison Square Garden to Play Conference Rival|url=http://www.immaculata.edu/uc/the-immaculata-mighty-macs-return-to-the-famous-madison-square-gardens-to-play-conference-rival/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130213014841/http://www.immaculata.edu/uc/the-immaculata-mighty-macs-return-to-the-famous-madison-square-gardens-to-play-conference-rival/|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 February 2013|publisher=Immaculata University|access-date=8 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Beginning">{{cite web|last=Garber|first=Greg|title=Where did it all begin? Just ask Immaculata's Mighty Macs|date=19 March 2008 |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/columns/story?columnist=garber_greg&id=3302119|publisher=ESPN|access-date=8 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="nickname">{{cite web|last=GEOGHEGAN|first=NEIL |title=Hall of Fame profile: George Heaslip|url=http://www.dailylocal.com/article/20121024/SPORTS01/121029790/hall-of-fame-profile-george-heaslip|work=Daily Local News|date=24 October 2012 |access-date=8 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="dynasty">{{cite web|title=Immaculata&nbsp;— the first women's basketball dynasty|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=ncw&id=7123786|publisher=ESPN|access-date=14 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="undefeated">{{cite news | title =CNNSI Recap of 1972 Tournament | url =http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/women/features/finalfour_history/1972/ | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20020212091539/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/women/features/finalfour_history/1972/ | url-status =dead | archive-date =February 12, 2002 | access-date =2012-12-14}}</ref>

<ref name="NCAA special">{{cite web|last=Farnum|first=Amy|title=The one that started it all|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2011-10-01/ones-who-started-it-all|publisher=NCAA|access-date=15 Dec 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412030827/http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2011-10-01/ones-who-started-it-all|archive-date=12 April 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Herald">{{cite news|last=Fernandes|first=Doug |title=Sarasota woman coached team featured in movie|date=October 19, 2011|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111019/ARTICLE/111019459?p=1&tc=pg|newspaper=HeraldTribune|access-date=15 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Title IX quote">{{cite news|last=STALLSMITH|first= SHELLY |title=Four generations of Title IX: Cathy Rush|date=June 23, 2012|url=http://www.pennlive.com/specialprojects/index.ssf/2012/06/four_generations_of_title_ix_c.html|newspaper=The Patriot-News |publisher=PennLive LLC|access-date=15 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Greenberg surprise">{{cite news|last= Greenberg|first=Mel Greenberg|title=Mighty Mac Attack Immaculata's storybook season making leap to the big screen Immaculata women's basketball going Hollywood|date=July 4, 2007|url=http://articles.philly.com/2007-07-04/sports/25240179_1_west-chester-school-bus-aiaw|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004233705/http://articles.philly.com/2007-07-04/sports/25240179_1_west-chester-school-bus-aiaw|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 4, 2013|newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer|access-date=15 Dec 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Game format">{{cite news|last=Tyrrell|first=Heather|title=Cathy Rush speaks at Healthy Woman celebration in Phoenixville (with video)|date=May 7, 2012|url=http://www.phoenixvillenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120507/NEWS01/305079999&template=printart|newspaper=phoenixvillenews|access-date=15 Dec 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004223034/http://www.phoenixvillenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20120507%2FNEWS01%2F305079999&template=printart|archive-date=4 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="AIAW winners">{{cite web|title=Pre-NCAA Statistical Leaders and AIAW Results|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_basketball_RB/2010/AIAW_wbkb.pdf|publisher=NCAA|access-date=31 Oct 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Fast Facts">{{cite web|title=Mighty Macs/Fast Facts|url=http://www.immaculata.edu/mightymacsthemovie/macfacts.php|publisher=Immaculata University|access-date=15 Dec 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502053936/http://www.immaculata.edu/mightymacsthemovie/macfacts.php|archive-date=2012-05-02}}</ref>

<ref name="SI Shank">{{cite news|last=Gross|first=Jane |title=She's The Center Of Attention|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1087224/index.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419073436/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1087224/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 19, 2013|work=SI Vault|publisher=Time Inc. A Time Warner Company|access-date=15 Dec 2012|date=April 9, 1973}}</ref>

<ref name="SI Macs">{{cite news|last=Marshall|first=Joe |title=On And Up With The Mighty Macs|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1089485/index.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419071948/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1089485/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 19, 2013|work=SI Vault|publisher=Time Inc. A Time Warner Company|access-date=15 Dec 2012|date=February 3, 1975}}</ref>

<ref name="Delta">{{cite news|last=Williamson|first=Nancy |title=Stating Delta's Case|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1091849/index.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119214352/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1091849/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 19, 2013|work=SI Vault|publisher=Time Inc. A Time Warner Company|access-date=15 Dec 2012|date=November 29, 1976}}</ref>

<ref name="1975 WC">{{cite web|title=Seventh World Championship For Women -- 1975|date=February 26, 2014|url=http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/seventh-world-championship-for-women-1975.aspx|publisher=USA Basketball|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905203725/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/seventh-world-championship-for-women-1975.aspx|archive-date=5 September 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="1975 Pan Am">{{cite web|title=Seventh Pan American Games -- 1975|date=June 10, 2010|url=http://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-womens/seventh-pan-american-games-1975-1.aspx|publisher=USA Basketball|access-date=12 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907033936/http://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-womens/seventh-pan-american-games-1975-1.aspx |archive-date=7 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

}}

==References==
* {{cite book | last = Hawkes | first = Nena | title = Celebrating women coaches : a biographical dictionary | publisher = Greenwood Press | location = Westport, Conn |page=139| year = 2000 | isbn = 9780313309120 }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Hult  | first1 = Joan S.| last2 = Trekell| first2 = Marianna| title = A Century of women's basketball : from frailty to final four | publisher = National Association for Girls and Women in Sport | location = Reston, Va | year = 1991 | isbn = 9780883144909 }}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Porter|editor1-first=David L.|title=Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary|publisher=Greenwood Press|year=2005|isbn=978-0-313-30952-6}}

{{2008 Basketball HOF}}
{{Basketball Hall of Fame coaches}}
{{Women's Basketball Hall of Fame|Coach}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rush, Cathy}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American women's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:American women's basketball players]]
[[Category:Basketball coaches from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Atlantic County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Immaculata University faculty]]
[[Category:Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Oakcrest High School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey]]
[[Category:People from Ventnor City, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Atlantic City, New Jersey]]
[[Category:West Chester University alumni]]
[[Category:American women academics]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportswomen]]