Christian Zwickert
Christian Zwickert
Title: Head Coach
Phone: (302) 261-1007
Email: christian.s.zwickert@wilmu.edu

The Wilmington University athletics department has named Christian Zwickert as the men's lacrosse program's first head coach in January 2017. The program began play in the fall of 2017 with its first season of NCAA competition starting in the spring, 2018.

In six seasons at the helm of the Wildcats, Coach Zwickert is 39-31 overall and 20-8 in CACC play. 

Coach Zwickert challenged the 2023 squad, with the first four games of the season against nationally ranked opponents. The season started against defending national champion and #1 ranked Tampa, and then they played #2 Mercyhurst, #13 Pace, and #3 Mercy to begin the season.

The program had its finest season in 2022, winning the CACC Regular Season Championship with a perfect 6-0 mark. The Wildcats placed 10 student-athletes on the All-CACC teams, including Giovanni Marino winning the CACC Player of the Year Award, Connor Graser winning the CACC Defensive Player of the Year award, Jason Roland winning the CACC Goalkeeper of the Year award, and Coach Zwickert was named the CACC Coach of the Year. The team returned to the CACC Tournament Championship game after a dominant 24-8 victory over Dominican in the semifinal. But the Wildcats fell to Chestnut Hill, 13-12, in the final and missed being selected to the NCAA North Regional Tournament by the slimmest of margins. 

The 2021 season saw the Wildcats advance to the CACC Tournament Championship game for the first time in program history. As the Tournament's second seed, the Wildcats defeated No. 3 Georgian Court, 12-11, in the semifinals on its home field. The Wildcats fell to top seed Chestnut Hill in the final. 

In 2020, the Wildcats were off to their best start in its early going, racing out to a 5-0 mark before the COVID-19 pandemic struck the country. 

In 2019, the Wildcats returned to the CACC Tournament, earning the third seed by going 3-2 in the regular season. The Wildcats lost in the CACC Semifinals but went 8-7 overall in the second year of the program. The Wildcats had five players named All-CACC, including three on the First Team.

In his first season at Wilmington, Zwickert led the Wildcats to a CACC Tournament berth, finishing fourth in the CACC Regular Season. The Wildcats finished 4-9 overall, going 2-3 in conference play. He coached five players to All-CACC performances in the program's first year, including one on the First Team and four on the Second Team. 

Zwickert brings 11 years of collegiate coaching experience to Wilmington, including seven at the head coaching level. After two years at the helm of Immaculata University from 2011-12, Zwickert focused his attention to his Delaware Lacrosse Academy and the Delaware Silverbacks Lacrosse Club in which he has been the owner, director, and a head coach since 2006.

In his two seasons at Immaculata, Zwickert coached 11 players to All-Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) honors, including a program record six players in 2011. He led the Mighty Macs to the 2011 CSAC Tournament Semifinals as the number four seed.

Prior to Immaculata, Zwickert served as the head lacrosse coach at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware, from 2004-08. He authored a 42-34 (.553) record and four-straight winning seasons during his five years. He was named the 2004 PAC Coach of the Year in his first season with the Wolverines.

Zwickert also has experience at the national level, creating, coaching, and managing the Polish National Lacrosse Team in 2008 in preparation for the 2010 World Games in Manchester, England. He coached the team to a 5-3 record and a 14th place finish at the 2010 World Games in the program’s first event.

He also served as the German National Team’s head coach in 2001, leading Germany to a perfect 6-0 record and winning the nation’s first European Championship in Cardiff, Wales. Zwickert played on the German national team prior to coaching, playing as both a midfielder and attacker from 1998 to 2000.

Zwickert earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education studies from the University of Delaware in 1995. He was a two-time Blue Hen Lacrosse Club team MVP as well as a three-time captain. He was the club’s vice president in 1994. 

Year

Record

Conference Record (Finish)

Highlights

2018 4-9 2-3 (4th) CACC Tournament Semifinals
2019 8-7 3-2 (3rd) CACC Tournament Semifinals
2020 5-0 0-0 COVID-19 Shortened Season
2021 5-4 4-1 (2nd) CACC Tournament Finalists
2022 11-4 6-0 (1st) CACC Regular Season Champions
CACC Coach of the Year
CACC Tournament Finalists
2023 6-7 5-2 (3rd) CACC Tournament Semifinalist

Totals (6 years)

39-31 (.557)

20-8 (.714)

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