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John Klepacki

 
Profile
John Klepacki, who wrapped up his 17th season as the Western New England University men's lacrosse coach in 2018.

He is among the top coaches in the nation today. Klepacki has posted an impressive 225-97 career and school mark for a .699 winning percentage, which ranks fifth among active NCAA Division III coaches.

The winningest coach in terms of percentage among all current WNE head coaches, Klepacki has overseen all nine of the Golden Bears' runs in the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship since 2002. Western New England has won more Commonwealth Coast Conference men's lacrosse championships (7) than any other program since joining the league in 2008.

Last spring, Klepacki's Golden Bears again proved to be the class of the CCC. Western New England's challenging non-conference schedule prepared the team for an undefeated, 8-0 run through conference play. The Golden Bears defeated Salve Regina (18-5) and Endicott College (10-6) in the CCC semifinals and championship, respectively, to capture the program's seventh CCC title. Sophomore midfielder Nick Gamba was named the CCC Offensive Player of the Year, while Gamba, senior goalie Steven Kerr and sophomore defenseman Oskar Djusberg received USILA Honorable Mention All-America recognition. Additionally, Justin Holl was named a USILA Scholar All-American and Nick Beauchamp represented the Golden Bears in the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game.

After emerging from a daunting non-conference slate that featured five nationally-ranked opponents in 2017, Western New England posted a 7-1 record in CCC play and reached the CCC championship game for the seventh consecutive season. Ten Golden Bears earned All-CCC accolades, including seniors Keegan Dudeck and Steven Patrie, who were recognized as USILA Honorable Mention All-Americans. At the conclusion of the season, Klepacki was selected to coach in the prestigious USILA North-South Game for the second time in his career.

Klepacki guided the Golden Bears to another successful campaign in 2016, as Western New England went 15-4 (8-0 CCC) with three victories over nationally ranked opponents. The Golden Bears, who finished the season ranked No. 14 in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Poll, captured their sixth CCC title with a 14-12 win over Endicott on May 7, earning a trip back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.

Klepacki, who reached the 200-win milestone late in the 2016 season, was recognized as both the CCC Coach of the Year and ECAC New England DIII Coach of the Year. Four of his student-athletes were named USILA Honorable Mention All-Americans, while 13 collected All-CCC recognition.