Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Athletics, Huntington’s Kitchen Cook Up Special Partnership
3/10/2026 9:55:00 AM | Buck Harless Student Athlete Program
‘Chef Izzy’ to offer Marshall student-athletes cooking classes to promote nutrition education, independent life skills
Photo Gallery – Marshall student-athletes at Huntington's Kitchen
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Athletics and Huntington's Kitchen have cooked up a special partnership designed to offer cooking classes to Marshall University's student-athletes. This unique partnership got started recently at Huntington's Kitchen.
Isabel Cross, also known as 'Chef Izzy', has joined with Maura Hohl, Marshall's Director of Performance Nutrition, to administer four classes for Marshall student-athletes, teaching them everything from kitchen utensil and appliance use to safe and sanitary preparation tactics to nutritional guidance for meal prep and strategies for maintaining balanced food intake for their needs as an athlete.
The first class took place on Feb. 26 at Huntington's Kitchen, located at 911 Third Avenue.
"Huntington's Kitchen is excited to partner with the Marshall University Athletic Department," said Cross, who is Marshall Health Network manager of fundraising and Huntington's Kitchen. "I am looking forward to teaching student-athletes everyday healthy cooking skills that will help them succeed in the game and in life. This new partnership is just the beginning of a great combined effort between Marshall University and Marshall Health Network."
Following the first class, there will be three other classes for student-athletes in the near future: March 11 (Wednesday), April 9 (Thursday) and April 14 (Tuesday).
"I am ecstatic to partner with Huntington's Kitchen to provide our student-athletes with hands-on cooking classes that deliver invaluable cooking skills and nutrition education they can use both now and long after their athletic careers," Hohl said. "I am passionate about the power of teaching basic cooking skills - such as knife skills, simple recipes and meal-prepping – to build confidence in the kitchen that can translate to all areas of life.
"These classes will allow student-athletes to take the nutrition knowledge and recommendations I provide and put them into practice. When athletes learn how to cook and fuel themselves, they gain control over nutrition, their health and – ultimately – their performance. Elite athletes can do both, and that is exactly what our goal is with these cooking classes."
In addition to teaching sanitation and safety tactics, Chef Izzy will instruct Marshall student-athletes about mise en place (measuring and preparing ingredients prior to cooking) and knife skills for meal preparation.
These fun classes bring Marshall student-athletes together with their peers to learn important life skills in an environment that promotes healthy well-being and student-athlete success in the future – key elements of the Herd Mentality that go well beyond the playing fields or courts.
Each class with Chef Izzy features fresh ingredients and hands-on instruction as the athletes learn skills that make them more comfortable in the culinary environment while preparing meals for themselves or others. At the end of each class, those attending will be able to enjoy their prepared meals together in a fun dinner setting that also promotes bonding with the student-athletes.
Reading materials for instruction are also available for attendees to help them in the future, as well.
"Each class will include the preparation of three menus or recipes, along with nutrition education that connects the food on the plate to performance and recovery," Hohl said. "Student-athletes will leave with improved cooking skills, increased nutrition knowledge and greater confidence in the kitchen, giving them practical tools to support their health and performance goals now and beyond their sport."
Huntington's Kitchen has been operated through Cabell Huntington Hospital and Marshall Health Network since 2013. First used as a studio kitchen for ABC's television show Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution in 2010, the Kitchen has become a community resource devoted to improving the region's health and quality of life through healthy eating and education classes. Over the last decade-plus, the Kitchen has served more than 10,000 patrons.
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