Tag Archives: caldwell

Caldwell University Adds Women’s Flag Football For 2026-27 Academic Year, Names Kroncke Head Coach

Caldwell University will add Women’s Flag Football as its 17th varsity level sport, for the 2026-27 academic year, it was announced today by Mark A. Corino, Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics. Additionally, T.J. Kroncke has been named the program’s first head coach.

“The addition of the fast-paced, fast-growing sport of women’s flag football represents another strong commitment to student-athletes, particularly in the New Jersey area,” said Corino. “We are pleased to be joined by other CACC members and look forward to being one of the first in New Jersey to offer it as a varsity program next year.

“I simply love football,” said Caldwell University President Dr. Jeffrey Senese. “It’s going to be a great pleasure to cheer on our men in the fall and women in the spring. Go Cougars!”

Kroncke, who has also served as the defensive line coach for Caldwell University’s sprint football team since 2024, also coached flag football at Lyndhurst H.S. for the past two seasons. The 2006 graduate of Montclair State who earned Master’s degrees at the University of Texas in 2010 and American College of Education in 2021, began his coaching career at Paramus Catholic H.S. in 2010, mentoring running backs and the junior varsity team for four years. He moved on to Wood Ridge H.S., where he was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 2014-2018. He took over as head coach at Palisades Park/Leonia H.S. in 2018, leading the Tigers for four seasons.

“I’m excited to take on this new chapter in Caldwell University Athletics,” said Kroncke.

“We have gotten to know T.J. over the past couple of seasons from his excellent work with our sprint football team,” added Corino. “With his experience as head and assistant coach in New Jersey and familiarity with Caldwell University, he is the ideal person to build the new Women’s Flag Football program here from the ground up.”

Caldwell will become the sixth New Jersey four-year institution and only NCAA Division II school in the Garden State to sponsor Women’s Flag Football on the varsity level when it begins play in the Spring of 2027. The Cougars join fellow Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) members University of Bridgeport, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University and Post University in sponsoring the sport.

“The emergence of women’s flag football in the CACC mirrors its rapid growth nationally,” said CACC Commissioner Dan Mara in an earlier statement. “With seven of our members now committed to sponsor the sport, we look forward to hosting our first CACC women’s flag football championship in 2027.”

Flag football is a non-contact sport that combines the strategy and excitement of traditional football. The sport is played with seven players on each side of an 80-yard field. Offensive players advance the ball through running or passing, while defensive players stop plays by pulling the ball carrier’s flag.

In April, the NCAA Division II Management Council sponsored a 2026 NCAA Convention proposal to add flag football as an Emerging Sport for Women. In a further sign of its growth, the sport has also been added to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

At present, Caldwell’s NCAA Division II sports competing in the CACC include men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s track & field, women’s volleyball, women’s bowling, softball and baseball. Sprint Football competes in the Collegiate Sprint Football League and Acrobatics & Tumbling competes in the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association. Full information about Caldwell Athletics is available at www.caldwellathletics.com.

Caldwell University Athletics To Once Again Produce Bilingual Broadcast To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month September 24

Returning after a successful first year in 2024, the Caldwell University Athletics department will produce a bilingual broadcast of the women’s soccer contest vs. the University of Bridgeport on Wednesday, September 24, at 4 p.m., live streamed on the CACC Network. Play-by-play announcer Trevor Spinelli ’25 will be joined by graduate men’s soccer standout Jorge Gutierrez (Zaragoza, España), who will provide color commentary in both English and Spanish.

The game, available for free on Caldwell’s channel on the CACC Network, represents a significant portion of the department’s celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Sept. 15 and continues until Oct. 15. Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and honors the histories, cultures, and peoples that make up the varied, powerful, and beautiful Latinx/e communities throughout our nation.

Gutierrez, a top defender on the Caldwell squad, will help guide English and Spanish-language viewers through the contest, which will pit two teams with numerous players of Hispanic descent.

Caldwell, the 2024 CACC runners up, is 1-0-1 to date and opens CACC play today vs. Dominican at 3:30 p.m. at Caldwell Athletic Field.

Dominic Scorcia Named Caldwell University Men’s Lacrosse Coach

Dominic Scorcia has been named Caldwell University Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach and Athletics Administrator, it was announced today by Mark A. Corino, Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics. Scorcia, who served as assistant coach at his alma mater, Mercy University, for two years and at Carey H.S. on Long Island last year, becomes the program’s fourth head coach.

Scorcia is one of Mercy’s most decorated players ever, ranking first on the school’s career goals (159) list and second in points (261). He holds the school marks for goals (nine) and points (14) in a game, and was named captain in 2022, when the Mavericks were the national NCAA Division II runners up. The four-time All-East Conference selection helped lead Mercy to three ECC titles, appearing in and starting all 69 Mavs games (58-11) over five seasons.

As a coach, Scorcia assisted in all aspects of the Mercy program which won back-to-back ECC Championships, earning NCAA Tournament berths in 2023 and 2024. This past year, he assisted at his alma mater Carey High School in Franklin Square, N.Y.

“I can’t wait to get started on this new chapter in my coaching career and my first head coaching position at Caldwell,” said Scorcia. “I look forward to working with the returning student-athletes and attracting others as we grow a program together.”

“We are excited to welcome Coach Scorcia to the Caldwell family,” said Corino. “We feel that the combination of his knowledge of the area lacrosse scene, demonstrated ability on the field and the sideline, and enthusiasm for the sport will make him a great fit here.”

Caldwell will begin its seventh season of men’s lacrosse competition in 2025-26.

Scorcia currently resides in Franklin Square, N.Y.