Matt Poskay Named New Head Men's Lacrosse Coach

Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Matt Poskay as head men's lacrosse coach. Poskay becomes the 10th coach in the history of the program and takes over following the passing of Mike Schambach in June. Poskay, a two-time All-America at the University of Virginia and 2010 Major League Lacrosse MVP, comes to Montclair State after seven years on the sidelines at Division I Wagner College in Staten Island, NY where he rebuilt the Seahawks program. "I would like to thank Holly Gera, Director of Athletics and Associate Director of Athletics Rob Chesney for this opportunity," said Poskay. "I am excited to be taking over a program rich in tradition and a roster which speaks to the talent of New Jersey lacrosse. I believe we can be an immediate presence in the Colonial States Athletic Conference and I am excited to get to work with these young men." From 2010 until 2013, Wagner won a total of three games, which included a winless season in 2011. But things improved beginning with a two-win campaign in 2014. After going 4-9 in 2015, Wagner had back-to-back 6-9 seasons in 2016 and 2017. Poskay coached two of the program's best offensive players while on Staten Island in Andrew Streilein and Colin O'Rourke. O'Rourke set program records with 82 career goals and 108 career points during the early years of Poskay's tenure. Streilein, who graduated this past May, finished his Wagner career as the all-time leader in career goals (92), assists (57), and points (149) and also set single-season marks in those three categories. "Matt is an accomplished head coach and will be an excellent addition to our staff," said Gera. "Matt is energetic, knowledgeable and highly motivated. I know that he will continue and build on the proud tradition of Montclair State men's lacrosse. His expertise and his outgoing personality will be great assets for our program. I am very excited to be working with him." Before his stint at Wagner, Poskay served as an assistant coach at Drew University helping the Rangers to a pair of winning seasons and was an assistant coach at his scholastic alma mater, A.L. Johnson Regional High School in Clark, NJ. It was during his record-setting playing career at Johnson where Poskay began garnering national attention. He has held the national high school record with 362 career goals for nearly a decade and also tallied 468 career points, tops in state history. On the gridiron, he was a First-Team All-State quarterback as a senior and Second-Team his junior year. He was also the starting point guard for three years on the basketball team. Poskay, who is the fourth-leading goal-scorer by a Virginia midfielder, helped led the Cavaliers to national titles in 2003 and 2006. He was selected in the second round of the 2006 Major Lacrosse League Draft by the Boston Cannons following his five-goal performance in the Cavaliers' NCAA title game win over UMass. In 2006, he led the Cannons in goals and was named the team's Rookie of the Year. His 2007 season was even better as he was named a MLL All-Star and then preceded to win the MLL All-Star Game MVP. In 2008, he was again named to the MLL All-Star team while leading the Cannons with 34 goals. The pinnacle of his professional career came in 2010 when he was not only the MVP of the league but also the league's Offensive Player of the Year. Poskay graduated from the University of Virginia's, McIntrie School of Commerce with honors in 2006. He was a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Scholar All-American as well as an ACC Honor Roll selection three times.