Centenary University

Matt Klank is ready for his 14th season this upcoming spring as the head coach of the Centenary men's lacrosse team.

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. Since 2008, 40 student-athletes have gained all-conference honors, including 10 first team selections, and his first CSAC Defensive Player of the Year with Kevin Switzer '16 under Klank’s tutelage.

In 2017, the Cyclones reached the CSAC Tournament for the third straight year after posting seven wins, including four in conference and a third place finish. Nolan Gottshall '18 was named to the All-CSAC First Team, while follow classmate Spencer Stachowiak '18 was named to the All-CSAC Second Team.

In 2016, the Cyclones reached the CSAC Tournament for the second straight year after posting nine wins, including five in conference and a third place finish. Led by Switzer's Defensive Player of the Year selection, Centenary had six players earn All-CSAC accodales.

Senior Joey DeBiasse '16 became the second Cyclone in program history to be selected for the prestigious USILA Division III North-South All-Star Game.

Klank and the Cyclones returned to the CSAC Tournament in 2015. With four games to go and facing elimination from playoff contention, the Cyclones made an incredible push, winning all four games to finish the season with a 4-3 CSAC record, good enough for 4th place and a spot in the CSAC semifinals.

Centenary posted a 5-9 record during the 2014 season, finishing fifth in the CSAC. The Cyclones boasted one of the top defenses in Division III, ranking fourth nationally in saves per game and 17^th in man-down defense. In the classroom, eight student-athletes earned CSAC All-Academic Team recognition.

The 2013 season was by far the program’s most successful season during Klank’s tenure. The Cyclones finished the season with a 14-4 overall record and 4-2 mark in the CSAC.  The team’s 14 victories surpassed Centenary’s previous single-season record of 11 set in 2002, while marking the first 10-win season of Klank’s career.

Following a record-setting regular season, the Cyclones defeated Gwynedd-Mercy in the semifinals of the CSAC tournament to advance to the CSAC championship for the first time in program history. 

After a runner-up showing in the league tournament, Centenary earned its first bid to the ECAC Tournament since 2003.   The Cyclones defeated SUNY–Canton in the quarterfinals for their first-ever ECAC triumph.

Seven players garnered all-league honors, the most during Klank’s tenure.

In 2012, Klank concluded his eighth season as head coach of the Centenary men’s lacrosse program by guiding Centenary to its first CSAC Tournament berth since 2009. The Cyclones fell at nationally-ranked Cabrini in the quarterfinals to close the season with a 6-9 record, including a 4-3 mark in league play.

Centenary registered six all-conference honorees, including first team selection Cameron Gunn, who ranked 12^th nationally in points per game.

In 2011, the team went 6-7 overall and 1-5 against league competition. Centenary battled injuries to key players throughout the majority of the season and dropped four games by four goals or less.

The 2010 squad finished 6-8, including 1-5 in the CSAC, with three of the Cyclones’ five conference losses coming by two goals or fewer. Centenary featured a number of underclassmen who contributed major roles on both offense and defense. As a team, Centenary was awarded the CSAC Sportsmanship Award.

Four Cyclones garnered all-CSAC laurels, including Jason Rieg, who earned USILA 2010 Scholar All-American honors, one of just 70 Division I, II and III student-athletes to earn the award.

The 2009 campaign was one of Klank’s best coaching jobs as he guided an injury-plagued team with only 16 student-athletes on the roster to a 6-9 record. Centenary finished third for the second-straight season in the conference after posting a 4-2 record.

Centenary joined the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (now Colonial States Athletic Conference) in 2008 and Klank’s Cyclones had an immediate impact on the league. Centenary placed third in the regular-season standings and advanced to the semifinal round of the conference tournament.

Klank’s 2005-2007 squads won a total of 10 games before finding consistent success during under his guidance. The Cyclones won at least six games during each season from 2008-2013.

During his first season at Centenary, Klank aided in the development of Reese Baillie, who was selected to play in the prestigious USILA Division III North-South All-Star Game.

Klank came to Centenary in 2005 following a four-year stint as assistant coach and offensive coordinator at Drew University.

Prior to joining the staff at Drew, Klank 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.