Hempstead, NY – Hofstra University Deputy Director of Athletics Dino Mattessich has been named the men's lacrosse national team coach for Croatia, the Croatia Lacrosse Association announced.

Croatia, which became the 53rd nation to join the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) last December, is only the fifth nation in the Balkans to become a lacrosse-playing nation, joining Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey.

"I am very fortunate and extremely excited to help develop lacrosse in my native country," Mattessich stated. "Like so many who have been profoundly influenced and enriched by their experience with the game, I am humbled and honored by this calling to develop a national program that will afford educational, cultural and life learning opportunities to all who participate. The challenge is great, but those who commit to this effort will look back on this journey with very fond memories."

Croatia Lacrosse was started in 2011 by two sports enthusiasts, Matej Bodul and Ante Pilic. A group of players and supporters developed club teams in Zagreb, New Zagreb and Varazdin. With the help of key individuals in Croatia, the U.S., the Serbian and Slovenian Lacrosse Federations and eventually FIL, the Croatian Lacrosse Association (CLA) was formed.

While the CLA has received root growth assistance from Croatia to Long Island and points in between in the past couple of years, Mattessich, along with CLA Director of Development Chris Voelker, and CLA founder and President Matej Bodul, will be charged with raising awareness and developing a national lacrosse program in time for the 2018 FIL Championships in Manchester. England.
 
While much needs to be done in many areas before that Championship, the Croatian men's national team recently played in the Celtics Cup Tournament in Klagenfurt, Austria against teams from Slovenia, Serbia, and Austria. The team will also be participating in the Newcomers' Tournament during the European Lacrosse Championship (EC16) in Budapest, Hungary this July and is looking forward to representing Croatia in its first major international lacrosse tournament. Mattessich and company will be in Croatia for several weeks to conduct clinics, meet with Croatian and CLA officials, evaluate talent and increase awareness.

Mattessich, a Croatian-American who was born in Mali Losinj, Croatia and raised in Susak, has enjoyed a 40+-year athletic career as a Division I student-athlete, a coach and an administrator.  He joined the Hofstra staff in the summer of 2013 and assists Hofstra Director of Athletics Jeffrey A. Hathaway in all areas of the department including internal and external operations, sports administration and serving as the chief financial officer among other responsibilities. Mattessich also serves on the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rules Committee as well as the Board of Directors for the Long Island-Metropolitan New York Lacrosse Foundation (LIMLF).

A captain and a 1973 national championship-winning student-athlete in lacrosse at the University of Maryland from 1971 to 1974, Mattessich was the head lacrosse coach at his alma mater from 1980 to 1983 after working for a year as an assistant coach. During his tenure he led the Terps to three NCAA Tournaments, including an appearance in the NCAA semifinals in 1983.

Mattessich also served as the head lacrosse coach and was a member of the faculty at the University of Baltimore from 1977 to 1979. In addition, he has lectured and taught in multiple capacities at Connecticut, Husson College (ME), Maine and Towson.

Mattessich began his athletic administrative career in earnest in 1983, serving as the associate director of athletics at Towson University (then Towson State) until 1996. He supervised the men's basketball, football, men's lacrosse and men's golf programs. At Towson, Mattessich managed all finances, business operations and human resources matters, while overseeing all internal operations. He also created and managed the athletic marketing/promotions and the corporate sponsorship areas.

In 1996, he left Towson to become the senior associate director of athletics at the University of Maine and held that position until 2001. He directed the day-to-day operations of the department and was the program administrator for men's basketball, baseball, football and men's ice hockey.

From 2001 to 2012, Mattessich served as the senior associate director of athletics at the University of Connecticut from 2001 to 2012. He was in charge of all internal operations and was the department's chief financial officer. Mattessich oversaw the department's 64-million dollar budget and also served as sports administrator for the men and women's ice hockey teams, along with the men's golf program. He played a direct role in the development of the 40,000-seat Rentschler Field, and assisted in negotiating a pair of apparel (Nike) and corporate sponsorship (IMG College) deals that brought nearly 150 million dollars into the department.
 
Prior to coming to Hofstra, Mattessich worked as a consultant to the department of athletics and recreation at Hartford, providing the department with a review of the entire program and recommending improvements specific to resource management.

Mattessich, who has three grown children, holds a bachelor's degree in physical education from Maryland, a master's degree in athletic administration from Western Illinois and a doctorate in education administration from Morgan State.