Contact Us

New Jersey Elite Coaches and Directors

Matt Kovachik
Director of Coaching

Matt is currently in his 9^th year as an assistant coach at the Delbarton School, working primarily with the defense and goalies. He has been with New Jersey Elite for eight years succeeding Dave Kasemeyer as Head Coach in 2002. In 2007 Matt assumed the role as Director of Coaching. During his time at Delbarton he has been a significant part of a program that has five NJSIAA State Championships, five Morris County Championships and has been recognized every year by Inside Lacrosse and Laxpower as one of the strongest teams in the nation. Matt is also the President of the New Jersey Lacrosse Coaches Association and runs the Delbarton Summer Lacrosse Camp. Matt’s NJ Elite teams have won or played for several of the county’s most elite high school boys’ tournament championships

Prior to arriving at Delbarton, Coach Kovachik served as the Assistant Coach at Sacred Heart University for three years and the University of Vermont for two years. While at Sacred Heart University, Coach Kovachik’s defensive unit was ranked second in Division I Lacrosse in Man-down effectiveness

As a player, Coach Kovachik played scholastically at Fairfield Prep (Ct.) and went on to be a four year letter winner Hartwick College. As a midfielder and tri-captain for Hartwick, the team won three Upstate New York ECAC Tournaments.

Dave Giarrusso
Head Coach, High School

Dave is currently the head coach of Seton Hall Preparatory School and enters his 4^th year with New Jersey Elite Lacrosse. Prior to taking the reins at Seton Hall he was an assistant at The Pingry School. During his tenure at Pingry they were consistently ranked in the New Jersey state Top 20 and won their first Non-Public B State Championship. At Seton Hall his teams have been consistently ranked in the state Top 20. Dave took over as the Head Coach of New Jersey Elite in 2007

A 1988 graduate of Hingham High School in Massachusetts, Dave was a four-year starter, captain and team MVP. He played collegiately at the University of Vermont, where he was again a four year starter, team captain and MVP. He began his coaching career at Saint Ignatius Prep in San Francisco, where he led the team to three straight California State championships and an undefeated season in 2002. He was voted Northern California coach of the year four times and Man of the Year for his effort in getting the sport sanctioned by the state. Dave is a current Board of Trustee member for the New Jersey Chapter of US Lacrosse and a lecturer for the Positive Coaching Alliance. He resides in Verona, NJ with his wife and three future NJ Elite players. Coach G is a hopeless Boston Red Sox fan.

Mike Webster
Head Coach, Junior Team

Mike Webster has had numerous athletes play for New Jersey Elite and joins the coaching staff for the Summer of 2010. Coach Webster has been the head lacrosse coach at The Pingry School since 1989. In his 20 year career at Pingry, his teams have consistently ranked among the Top 20 in the state of New Jersey. Coach Webster has over 200 career victories winning Prep, Conference, County and State Championships. He is a member of New Jersey Coaches Association Hall of Fame and has been awarded Coach of the Year honors by the Star Ledger, Courier News, Daily Record, NJ Lacrosse Coaches Association, and National Federation. As a player, Coach Webster was a member of two NCAA D-I National Championship teams at Johns Hopkins University. Coach is also the founder of “The Jersey Jam”. He and his wife Mandy have twin girls.

Dave Schaller
Head Coach, Junior Team

Dave is a New Jersey native and graduate of Westfield High School and Rutgers University. Dave joins New Jersey Elite Lacrosse in 2009 as the Head Coach of the Junior Boys Team. Dave played collegiately at Rutgers University and was elected captain his senior year and drafted by the MLL New Jersey Pride. After graduation Dave began his coaching career as an Assistant Coach at Rutgers University.

Following Rutgers, Dave moved to California where he coached at Torrey Pines High School, Whittier College, and Pacific Palisades High School.

Under Dave’s leadership Torrey Pines won the San Diego County Championship and played for the California State Championship. Coach Schaller then joined the coaching staff at Whittier College as Offensive Coordinator. Whittier College went on to receive their first ever NCAA tournament bid where the lost in the quarterfinals to eventual National Champion, Middlebury College. Coach Schaller spent 3 years as Head Coach at Whittier College compiling a 28-6 record, a Number 1 National Ranking and an appearance in the Division III Final Four.

Dave has also directed camps, including Adrenaline Lacrosse, East Meets West, and Nike Lacrosse Camp. He also was a founding partner of Mainline Lacrosse, which held boys and girls camps and clinics from San Diego to Oregon.

Dave lives in Verona. He and his wife are expecting their first child this summer

Matt Klank
Assistant Coach, High School Boys

Matt is currently in his sixth season as Head Coach of the Centenary College men’s lacrosse program and is new to New Jersey Elite in 2009. In 2008 Centenary attained a No. 3 seed in the Colonial States Athletic Conference tournament reaching the conference semi-finals.

Matt is a graduate of Montclair State which is where he began his coaching career as an assistant. Prior to his appointment as the Head Coach at Centenary, Matt coached at Montclair Kimberly Academy, Villanova University and Drew University

Coach Klank began his collegiate playing career at Drexel University where he was the teams top scorer as a freshman. Matt transferred to Montclair State for his final two years of eligibility. Matt led the Red Hawks in scoring for two years and received such honors as the ECAC Most Valuable Player and All-New Jersey First-Team.

Matt lives in North Caldwell with his wife Marisel and their daughter Ashley Elizabeth.

Directors
Tom Boova
Bob Cohen

Contact
tboova@hotmail.com
908-273-6476
908-267-2523

FORMER COACHES

Dave Kasemeyer

Dave guided New Jersey Elite from its inception until 2002 when the original team members graduated from high school. From 2002 until 2004 Dave coached the college team. Dave is originally from Maryland and was a Mt Saint Joseph High School and Loyola College All-American. Dave now lives in Summit with his wife Melissa, who is well known in the women’s lacrosse circles, and his three children, Molly, Morgan & future NJ Elite player Will.

Matt Zarinko

Matt Zarinko is a familiar name in Summit lacrosse. He was a New Jersey Elite assistant coach from inception until 2002. Matt played at Summit High School and Washington College and remains a coach in the Summit Youth Lacrosse program

For information please contact:
Tom Boova
908-273-6476
tboova@hotmail.com