Caldwell Athletics Names Klank as Men’s Lacrosse Coach

Matt Klank Tabbed to Lead the Inaugural Caldwell Men’s Lacrosse Program

CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University Athletics Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Mark A. Corino has announced the hiring of Caldwell native Matt Klank to lead the inaugural men’s lacrosse team in the spring of 2020. Klank comes to Caldwell after serving as the head coach for 14 seasons at Centenary University and will serve as an athletics administrator for the department.

“We are extremely excited to add Matt to our department to lead our new men’s lacrosse program,” said Corino. “Matt has a long track record in the men’s lacrosse world and is a well-known coach in the state of New Jersey. Matt is a longtime resident in the Caldwell area and we feel that he will be an asset to our community as the university continues its expansion for 16 sports in 2019-20. The athletics department is excited and enthusiastic about playing a major role in the continued growth of our institution.”

Klank has guided the Cyclones to five conference tournament berths during the last eight seasons, including Centenary’s first-ever appearance in a league championship game in 2013. He has had over 40 student-athletes to achieve all-conference recognition, including 10 first team selections.

“I would like to thank Mark Corino and the entire athletic department for the opportunity to lead the first men’s lacrosse team at Caldwell University,” said Klank. “I am confident that my experiences has prepared me well for this challenge.”

Prior to his time at Centenary, Klank was the assistant coach and offensive coordinator at Drew University for our seasons. Klank also served as an assistant coach at Division I Villanova from 1998-2000 and at his alma mater, Montclair State. Klank gained experience coaching at the high school level from 1995-97 as the offensive coordinator at Montclair Kimberly Academy.

Klank began his collegiate playing career at Drexel University in 1992, where he led the Dragons in scoring as a freshman. Following his sophomore season, Klank transferred to Montclair State for his final two years of eligibility. He received the ECAC Most Valuable Player Award and garnered All-New Jersey First-Team accolades in 1994, while leading the Red Hawks in scoring during his two years at MSU.

A 1997 graduate of Montclair State, Klank earned his bachelor’s degree in commercial recreation and tourism. He currently resides in Roseland, N.J., with his wife, Marisel, and their children, Ashley and Justin.

The Cougars will compete in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, which sponsored men’s lacrosse as a conference sport this past spring. Fellow CACC members Felician University and Wilmington University completed their first men’s lacrosse season in 2018 as they joined Chestnut Hill College, Dominican College, Georgian Court University and Post University, who already had men’s lacrosse as a sponsored sport. Men’s lacrosse championship season is in the spring semester with the program competing in exhibition games and limited practices in the fall of 2019. The Cougars will hit the field for their first season in the spring of 2020.

About Caldwell Athletics: The Caldwell Athletics Department sponsors 16 varsity sports with the addition of men’s lacrosse in the 2019-20 academic year. Caldwell University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division II (NCAA DII). The Cougars compete in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). Caldwell’s sprint football program began competition in the 2017-18 academic year and is as a member of the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL). Caldwell’s women’s bowling team is an associate member of the East Coast Conference (ECC).

About Caldwell University: Caldwell University is a private, Catholic coed four-year university with a strong liberal arts core curriculum that enhances critical thinking and analytical reasoning. Caldwell offers 25 undergraduate and 30 graduate programs, including doctoral, master’s, certificate and certification programs, as well as online and distance learning options that prepare students for today’s global marketplace. The university has 15 NCAA Division II athletic teams along with sprint football and numerous clubs, fraternities, sororities and activities. It is located on a beautiful 70-acre campus in suburban Caldwell, New Jersey. Caldwell was founded by the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell. Its core values of respect, integrity, community and excellence influence academic and campus life. For more information about Caldwell University, visit caldwell.edu. Follow the university on Twitter @CaldwellUniv, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/caldwelluniversity, and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/caldwelluniversity.