Philadelphia, Pa. - The University of Pennsylvania Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Matt Hogan as head coach of the men's lacrosse program. Hogan succeeds Marc Van Arsdale, who left the University earlier this summer.

"The Penn men's lacrosse program has a rich tradition and we feel that Matt Hogan is the right person to continue that tradition," Penn Associate Athletic Director Earl Cleghorn said. "He brings a wealth of experience to Penn that should help us continue our climb toward the top of the ever-competitive Ivy League."

"My family and I are extremely excited to be coming to a great school like Penn that excels both academically and athletically in a great city like Philadelphia," Hogan said. "Franklin Field has always been one of my favorite places to play and to combine that with Penn's strong lacrosse community of current players and alumni, I am looking forward to embracing this position and all that it offers."

Hogan comes to Penn after 13 years at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis where he served as the assistant coach and defensive and faceoff coordinator. While with the Midshipmen, Hogan also served as the recruiting coordinator and was the direct scout of Navy's opponents. He helped lead Navy to five NCAA tournament appearances (1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999) including a quarterfinal appearance in 1989. Hogan's defensive unit finished first in the nation in 2000 for lowest goals against average (6.00) and was fourth in the nation in the same category this past season (7.38).

Penn's new coach brings head coaching experience to the Quakers' lacrosse program as well after serving as the head coach at Clarkson University from 1986-88. While there, Hogan's team posted it's first-ever national ranking in 1987 and went to it's first postseason championship in 1988. Hogan was named ICAC Unanimous Coach of the Year in 1988 after Clarkson won the ECAC Upstate New York Championships.

Hogan has also held lacrosse posts at the University of Maryland and the University of Delaware. Hogan earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Springfield College in 1982 and received a Master's degree in the same major from the University of Delaware in 1985.

He is currently in the process of producing and editing his second lacrosse instructional video, "Midfield Play: Dodging and Shooting." Hogan is a member of US Lacrosse Inc. and is the current chair of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association awards committee.