Saint Ignatius High School

Patrick O’Rourke '90 recently concluded his 27th year coaching hockey at Saint Ignatius and 20th as the head coach. 

After spending his first seven years coaching the JV Hockey team, O'Rourke has led the Varsity hockey team to a 568-175-22 record in his 20 years at the helm since the 2004-05 season.

In that time, the Wildcats have won seven state titles (2010, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024), six city championships (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), and eight league championships (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017). He has also led the Wildcats to back-to-back GOHL Tournament wins.

In 2020, the Wildcats advanced to the State Semifinal with a 9-0 victory over St. Edward before the outbreak of COVID-19 canceled the state tournament, ending the team's quest for an unprecedented fifth straight crown.

In the 2022-23 season, coach O'Rourke won his 500th game as the Wildcat head coach. He became the first coach in Saint Ignatius High School history to eclipse 500 wins in a career.

O'Rourke grew up in West Park and attended St. Patrick's (W.P.) before attending Saint Ignatius.  At Saint Ignatius, he played on the varsity hockey team, where he was named Plain Dealer Player of the Week in November of 1989 and co-MVP of the team his senior year (along with John Farrall '91). 

He was also an editor on the yearbook and newspaper staff, a member of the National Honor Society, and a National Merit Commended Student. 

After graduating from Saint Ignatius, O'Rourke attended Miami (Ohio) University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education (certified in Latin and English) as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Humanities.  O'Rourke later completed his Master's Degree in the Humanities at John Carroll University.

Besides serving as the head hockey coach, O'Rourke serves as Director of Admissions. He also teaches Latin for the Classics Department.

O'Rourke lives in Fairview Park with his lovely wife, Lisa, and their sons, Jack '20, Bobby '25, and Paddy '27.

He can be reached at porourke@ignatius.edu.

(As of March 2025)