Matt Kerwick Hired As IMG Academy’s Director Of Lacrosse

Former Cornell Big Red head coach Matt Kerwick was announced as the new Director of Lacrosse at IMG Academy in Florida. Kerwick spent four years as head coach with the Big Red and went 32-26 overall (13-11 in Ivy League play) before resigning during the offseason.

Prior to being an assistant at Cornell under Ben DeLuca, Kerwick made Division I stops with the Georgetown Hoyas, Jacksonville Dolphins, Hobart Statesmen, and the Penn Quakers. He was the head coach of the Statesmen for six years from 2002 until 2008, before making his first stop in Florida to start Jacksonville’s program in 2009, until leaving after the 2011 season.

He was also a head coach at Division III schools Randolph-Macon and Alfred University in the 1990s.

For those who don’t know what IMG Academy is, it’s pretty much the American version of the Hill Academy as a boarding school with a heavy emphasis on athletic training. Their lacrosse program has become a team to take notice of in recent years, especially with Tehoka Nanticoke making unreal goals.

Kerwick replaces Bill Shatz, who parted ways with the school this past year. Shatz did coach their IMG National team, so it sounds like Kerwick will do the same.

The press release is below:

BRADENTON, Fla. (July 27, 2017) – Today IMG Academy announced Matt Kerwick, a veteran collegiate head coach, as its new Director of Lacrosse. Kerwick most recently led the men’s program at Cornell University where he served as head coach since 2013.

As Director of Lacrosse, Kerwick will oversee all aspects of IMG Academy’s lacrosse program including boarding school student-athletes, college placement, alumni relations, camps, visiting team training and events.

“This is an exciting opportunity to lead student-athletes at one of the most committed academic and athletic institutions in the world. Developing students in the classroom while utilizing the most advanced athletic facilities and staff in the country is what IMG Academy represents," said Kerwick. "I am sincerely thankful to the leadership at IMG and look forward to bringing my experiences to assisting these young women and men in achieving their goals."

As head coach at Cornell, Kerwick led the Big Red to a combined record of 32-26, two Ivy League championships and two berths to the NCAA tournament. He helped develop nine All-Americans, six Academic All-Americans and more than twenty All-Ivy honorees.

Prior to Cornell, Kerwick spent the 2012 season with Georgetown, working as an associate head coach in his second stint with the Hoyas. He previously spent three seasons there as an assistant coach, helping the program amass a 36-9 record and make an appearance in the final four in 1999. Kerwick also had head coaching stints at Jacksonville, Randolph-Macon, Alfred and Hobart, where he spent seven years and led the Statesmen to the Patriot League championship in 2002 and two NCAA tournament appearances.

“Matt’s passion for developing student-athletes on and off the field is undeniable,” said Scott Dean, IMG Academy Vice President and Director of Athletics. “He has a proven track record of leading some of the top collegiate programs, and we know his experience will help him make an immediate impact on our lacrosse program. We look forward to seeing the program grow under his leadership and continue a tradition of excellence on and off the field.”

A 1990 Hobart graduate with a degree in economics, Kerwick was a standout lacrosse and hockey player for the Statesmen. On the lacrosse field, he was a two-time All-American, won four consecutive Division III national championships, and earned 1989 NCAA Tournament MVP honors. Following his collegiate career, he played in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1991 through 1996 and was an all-star selection in 1992.

IMG Academy launched its varsity boys lacrosse program in 2012, and in its first five seasons has produced 14 Under Armour All-Americans and sent more than 60% of its student-athletes to Division I programs. The program finished the 2015 and 2016 seasons with top-10 rankings in the USA Today Super 25, and earned a berth in the inaugural GEICO Lacrosse High School Nationals this year after an 11-1 regular season.

Kerwick will assume his new role in early August, relocating from New York with his wife Mary and two sons, Thomas (13) and Sean (11).

For more information about the IMG Academy Lacrosse Program, click here for boarding and day school and here for camps. For specific questions on how to apply for the boarding and day school program, contact: Ariana Andis-Klein, ariana.andis-klein@img.com. For specific questions on how to register for our camp programs, call 1-800-872-6425.

About IMG Academy

IMG Academy is one of the world’s largest and most advanced multi-sport training and educational institutions. IMG Academy helps countless youth, adult, collegiate and professional athletes reach their full potential in and out of sport by providing world-class teaching and coaching, tailored programs and professional facilities. IMG Academy also serves as a training and competition venue for amateur and professional teams, a host site for a variety of events, and a hub for sports performance research and innovation.