July 10, 2023
Today, Highland Park Lacrosse is thrilled to announce the hiring of former NCAA Division I All-American (University of Maryland), 2x Defensive Player of the Year (MLL, PLL), 6x Professional All-Star, and 2023 Team USA Gold Medalist Matt Dunn as its new Defensive Coordinator.
“I am excited to join the Highland Park lacrosse program. The coaching staff has done a tremendous job getting the program to its current level of success. I have a ton of respect for Coach Pressler and the way he runs this program. I can’t wait to join the staff and get to work" said Dunn.
"We are thrilled to welcome Matt Dunn to our Highland Park Lacrosse program!" said Alex Richter, Highland Park Lacrosse Board Vice President and High School Director. "As the winningest lacrosse program in Texas, we believe that Matt's success at every level and his focus on the development of the next generation of defensive players will be incredibly helpful in driving continued growth and success for our Highland Park program.”
Head Coach Mike Pressler commented “Matt Dunn as a player has excelled at every level to include his days at the University of Maryland, representing Team USA and now in PLL. Today amongst his peers he is considered one of the very best close defenseman on the planet. As a coach, he is a remarkable teacher of the fundamentals. Matt is a man of principle and integrity. His communication skills and messaging are clear, direct, and very professional. Personally speaking for the entire Scot Nation, Highland Park Men’s Lacrosse just got a whole lot better today with this incredible hire. Can’t wait to officially welcome Coach Dunn to HP and get to work with him this fall”
Matt graduated from the University of Maryland in 2016 and is currently a Professional Lacrosse Player in the Premier Lacrosse League (“PLL”) for the Whipsnakes LC. At the University of Maryland, Matt played on the Men’s Lacrosse Team for four years where he served as a two-time captain, won a Big Ten Conference championship, and received All-American honors.
Upon graduation, he was drafted 7th overall in Major League Lacrosse for the Rattlers where he won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2018. In 2019, he transitioned leagues to the Premier Lacrosse League where he has won back-to-back PLL Championships and was ranked #7 on the Top 50 PLL Players List in 2020. In 2020, Matt was voted Defensive Player of the Year of the PLL. Matt is a 6x professional All-Star. He also played in the National Lacrosse League for the Georgia Swarm from 2018-2020 and played for Team USA in the Indoor World Lacrosse Championships in British Columbia in 2019. Most recently, he won a gold medal with Team USA in the 2023 World Lacrosse Championships in San Diego.
Coach Dunn has spent the last 4 years coaching at his High School alma mater, Loyola Blakefield (a perennial and nationally ranked powerhouse program), and also runs a lacrosse training business, First Class Lacrosse. Dunn replaces the highly decorated JR Stahl, longstanding Defensive Coordinator who retired after winning the State Championship in 2023.
About the Highland Park Boys Lacrosse Club
Founded in 1995, the Highland Park Boys Lacrosse Club has grown to nearly 400 players representing three high school teams and over two dozen Youth (5th-8th grade) and Bantam (1st - 4th grade) teams. The Club’s mission is to introduce and develop love, respect and passion for the game of lacrosse by offering exceptional coaching and development. As the winningest High School program in Texas, the D1 and DII Varsity teams have a combined 12 Texas High School Lacrosse League championship state titles.
