Patrick Cherry
Position: Head Coach Experience: 22 Years Alma Mater: U.S. Army

Patrick D. Cherry has a long and storied history at Ohio State. He has served as the Buckeye rifle coach since 1988. Cherry coached OSU to a second place smallbore rifle and third place air rifle finish at the 1991 NCAA Rifle Championships, where OSU finished third overall.

A 1959 graduate of Plains Local High School at Mt. Sterling, Ohio, he played football and ran track. While serving in the U.S. Army from 1959-62 he became involved in sport parachuting at Ft. Bragg and competitive rifle shooting as a member of the Fulda Germany Rod and Gun Club and the competitive rifle team of the Aviation Co., 14th Cavalry, 7th Army from 1960-62.

Cherry served as rifle instructor and coach in many youth rifle programs since 1966. He coached the Pickaway County Junior Rifle Club from 1972 until 1988. Cherry served as president of The Ohio Rifle and Pistol Association from 1984-86 as director of junior shooting programs from 1981-88. Cherry also served as director of the Buckeye Junior Rifle League from 1981 to 1988. He has been a member of the National Rifle Association Shooting Coach Development Staff and a NRA Training Counselor. Cherry has worked with several junior rifle training programs at Camp Perry, Olympic Training Center and the NRA Whitting Training Center in New Mexico. At present he teaches rifle, pistol, shotgun and archery for the PE classes at OSU. He also is a leader level instructor of the American Coaching Effectiveness Program. Cherry was appointed to the NCAA Rifle Committee commencing Sept. 1, 1999and served to Sept. 1, 2003.

Cherry's rifle coaching and youth work has been recognized by The Ohio House of Representatives, The League of Ohio Sportsmen, The U.S. Army Director of Civilian Marksmanship and the National Rifle Association. A medallion also was presented by the Youth Foundation of Physical Education and Sports Development of Leningrad, Russia, for rifle training in Leningrad in 1991.

Cherry has worked on many environmental projects over the past years and has held a license in the State of Ohio in steam engineering, water and wastewater treatment. A graduate of ICS Environmental Engineering Program, Cherry has taught both basic and advanced wastewater treatment courses. He received the Water Conservationist of the Year Award from the League of Ohio Sportsmen and the Ohio Wildlife Federation. He also has been recognized by the Ohio House of Representatives for work in water conservation.

Cherry was honored by the National Rifle Association at the conclusion of the 2002 season with the Outstanding Service To Collegiate Shooting Sports award.

The City of Columbus awarded Cherry the Santa Maria Award for innovative work in the environmental field.

Coaching Quick Facts
Full Name: Patrick Dale Cherry
Born: June 30, 1941
Hometown: Mt. Sterling, Ohio
High School: Plains Local
Alma Mater: ICS Enviornmental Engineering Program
Playing Career: High School - Football and track; Army - Sport Parachuting and competitive rifle shooting, Civilian - Competitive rifle shooting
Coaching Career: Served as instructor and coach in many youth rifle programs including the Pickaway County Junior Rifle Club, President of the Ohio Rifle & Pistol Association 1984 to '86, Director of Junior Shooting Programs from 1981 to 88. Served as director of the Buckeye Junior Rifle League 1981 to 88. Has worked with several junior rifle training programs at Camp Perry, Olympic Training Center, and the NRA Whitting Training Center in New Mexico, Coached at OSU 1988 to present. Instructed shooting courses at OSU since 1995, Member of the NRA Coach Development Staff and is certified to instruct the American Coaching Effectiveness Program. He is serving as a member of the NCAA Rifle committee from Sept. 1, 1999 to Sept. 1, 2003.
Highlights: Cherry's coaching and youth work has been recognized by The Ohio House of Representatives, The League of Ohio Sportsmen, The U.S. Army Director of Civilian Marksmanship and the National Rifle Association. A medallion was also presented by the Youth Foundation of Physical Education and Sports Development of Leningrad Russia for training in Leningrad in 1991. Coached the OSU team to 2nd place NCAA Smallbore Rifle and 3rd place Air Rifle in 1991. Honored in 2001 by the National Rifle Association with the Outstanding Service To Collegiate Shooting Sports award.
The Man: Although the shooting sports is a hobby for Cherry, he enjoys all aspects of shooting from building rifles and crossbows to shooting them and teaching the skills to shoot them. It is hard to be involved with arms and not study history. Cherry is an avid reader of history and the study of how society has been improved by development of arms. One thing that most people don't know is that Cherry was for over 30 years involved in environmental work and held license in Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment and Steam Engineering. Cherry's environmental work earned him the Santa Maria Award from the City of Columbus, Ohio and was recognized by the Ohio House of Representatives. He was awarded Water Conservationist of the Year by the League of Ohio Sportsmen and the Ohio Wildlife Federation.