MIDDLETOWN – Mater Dei Prep announced the appointment of Rob Eriksen as athletic director. Eriksen is the former director of athletics and supervisor of health and physical education for the Old Bridge school district. Lance Bennett will continue as a football coach and assume the role of Coordinator of Student Development.
“I am very excited to have Rob Eriksen join our Mater Dei Prep team as our new AD,” said Donald Galante, Mater Dei Prep president. “Rob brings with him extensive experience in this position.”
During his tenure with Old Bridge, Eriksen oversaw 98 athletic teams and hired, trained and supervised 126 coaches yearly at Old Bridge High School, Carl Sandburg Middle School and Jonas Salk Middle School. Prior to acting as the director of athletics, Eriksen was the vice principal at Carl Sandburg Middle School for six years.
While director of athletics, Eriksen worked with the administration and the board of education to plan and complete Old Bridge’s state-of-the-art Lombardi Field Complex, a track and field facility with a multipurpose turf field for football, soccer, field hockey and lacrosse. Under Eriksen, Old Bridge hosted the NJSIAA Group IV, I and Parochial B track and field championships and the Meet of Champions at the complex, accomplishments of which he said he’s extremely proud.
As the athletic director at Mater Dei Prep, Erikson said he will focus on several objectives designed to ensure the athletic program maintains a “culture of competitiveness, teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership.”
“I was attracted to Mater Dei Prep because of the reputation of their athletic program, their commitment to the student-athletes and coaches and the quality of the student-athletes who attend Mater Dei Prep,” said Eriksen.
One of the most important aspects of his job will be to encourage students to excel in the classroom as well as on the field or court, Eriksen said. He will ensure all athletes and coaches adhere to the rules and regulations established by the NJSIAA, the Shore Conference and Mater Dei Prep.
“He will be on campus for 12 months a year and will focus 100 percent on the AD position,” said Galante. “Rob has deep ties to the Shore Conference and the NJSIAA, which will be of great benefit to Mater Dei Prep.”
Eriksen also hopes to grow student, faculty, parent, alumni and community involvement and support for all sports, noting that he wants every program to show continuous improvement as they strive to reach the next level.
For more information about Mater Dei Prep’s athletic program and the 24 varsity sports it offers, please call 732-671-9100 or visit materdeiprep.org.
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