Hall of Fame
Colleen Lischwe made a transformational impact on McKendree Water Polo, guiding the men’s and women’s programs to a combined 165 victories. She began with the women’s team as a Graduate Assistant during its inaugural season, became head coach in 2017, and added the men’s program in 2018. That same year, she led the Bearcats to the MAWPC-West Championship and earned national recognition as the CWPA Division II Coach of the Year. The only female head coach of an NCAA Men’s Water Polo program, Lischwe collected multiple MAWPC coaching honors while elevating both teams to conference prominence. A native of Kirkwood, Missouri, she was a decorated high school standout and later starred at Marist College, winning two MAAC titles and appearing in two NCAA Championships. She also coached at Kirkwood High School and in USA Water Polo’s Olympic Development Program. Lischwe tragically passed away on January 15th, 2025, and was posthumously named ACWPC Division II Coach of the Year, leaving a legacy felt across McKendree and the water polo community.
