Courtesy of Caldwell University Athletics

CALDWELL, N.J. (October 4, 2018) -- 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 four 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 North Caldwell, 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 THE CACC
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 14 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Concordia (N.Y.) College, Dominican (N.Y.) College, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University), Nyack College, Post University of Waterbury, University of the Sciences, and Wilmington University.