An exciting new era in the rich history of University of Delaware men's lacrosse is now underway as Ben DeLuca, who has enjoyed national success as a student-athlete, assistant coach, and head coach over the last two decades, has been selected to lead the Blue Hens program. 
 
DeLuca (pronounced “dee-luke-uh”), who spent the last two seasons as associate head coach at Harvard University, becomes just the ninth coach in the 70-year history of the sport at Delaware and replaces legendary mentor Bob Shillinglaw, who retired this spring after winning 310 games and leading the Blue Hens to six NCAA Tournament appearances and 16 conference titles over a 39-year career.
 
“I am so excited to welcome Ben and his family to the Blue Hens family,” said Delaware Director of Athletics and Recreation Services Chrissi Rawak. “Ben believes strongly in the pursuit of excellence on and off the field and embodies the core values that drive the decisions we make everyday in Delaware Athletics. In addition, he brings to us an incredible knowledge of the game of lacrosse and an understanding that the University of Delaware is a very special place. We have such a passionate group of Delaware lacrosse alumni and I know Ben will build a strong connection with them. There is absolutely no doubt that Ben will make our men's lacrosse program, this department, and this University better.”
 
DeLuca comes to Delaware with an impressive history of success as a student-athlete and coach at three of the nation's top academic and NCAA Division I lacrosse-playing institutions - Cornell University, Duke University, and Harvard University. During that time he has led teams to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a national championship title as an assistant at Duke, a national runner-up finish as an assistant at Cornell, and three other NCAA semifinal appearances as a head coach and as an assistant. 
 
“My family and I want to thank President (Dennis) Assanis and Chrissi Rawak for this special opportunity and for the trust they have showed in inviting us to share in their mission to lead the renaissance of this great program together,” said DeLuca. “I am excited and honored to take over a program from someone like Bob Shillinglaw who has meant so much to this University and to the entire sport of lacrosse. I agree wholeheartedly with Chrissi's vision of comprehensive excellence in all facets of the student-athlete experience. We want to be great in the sport of lacrosse, but we want to be excellent in the classroom and leaders in the community as well. I take very seriously my role as an educator, mentor, and role model and will lead our central mission to develop young men into men and prepare them for life after college. Our program aspires to produce polished, accomplished, admirable men who will graduate and become ambassadors for the University of Delaware and Blue Hen Lacrosse. Hard work, integrity, character and a passion for greatness will be the hallmarks of our program. Well done is better than well said, and here at the University of Delaware we believe our actions will speak louder than our words."
 
Following an outstanding playing career for the Big Red, he joined the coaching ranks at his alma mater and served for 14 years, including three seasons as head coach in 2011-13. He then served for two seasons as an assistant coach to John Danowski at Duke in 2014-15 and the last two seasons as associate head coach at Harvard for head coach Chris Wojcik. Among his fellow staff members at Harvard was former Delaware starting goalkeeper and captain Noah Fossner.
 
In two seasons at Harvard, DeLuca helped lead the Crimson to a 14-15 record, including an 8-8 mark in 2016 when the team advanced to the Ivy League Championship game after knocking off top-seeded and No. 2 ranked Brown in the semifinals. That victory was one of three for the Crimson over a nationally ranked opponent, with Harvard also defeating then No. 4 Duke, 14-9, and then No. 20 Villanova, 13-12. The win over the Wildcats came in the season opener in overtime as the Crimson became just the second team in NCAA history to win three-consecutive games in overtime. 
 
At the conclusion of the year, Bobby Duvnjak (third team), Devin Dwyer (third team), and Joe Lang(honorable mention) were named to the USILA All-America teams, with a total of six individuals garnering All-Ivy League honors. This spring, Harvard attackman Morgan Cheek earned honorable mention USILA honors and three other Crimson players earned All-Ivy League honors. 
 
DeLuca came to Cambridge after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator under Danowski at Duke, helping the Blue Devils to the 2014 national championship and the ACC regular season championship. DeLuca coached four defensive All-American's in his first season in Durham. Duke also advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2015. 
 
Prior to Duke, DeLuca spent 18 years at Cornell as both a student-athlete and coach, including three seasons as head coach from 2011-13. The Big Red won a pair of Ivy titles with DeLuca at the helm, posting an overall record of 37-11 with a conference mark of 16-2. Cornell also made two appearances in the NCAA tournament, reaching the quarterfinals in 2011 and the national semifinals in 2013. Twelve student-athletes earned All-America recognition under DeLuca's tutelage, including Rob Pannell who graduated from Cornell as the NCAA's career leader in points (354).
 
Prior to his time as head coach, DeLuca served 11 seasons as both an assistant and associate head coach. Cornell made nine NCAA tournament appearances, including two national semifinals appearances in 2007 and 2010 and a trip to the national championship game in 2009. DeLuca was named as the IMLCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2007.
 
Over his 17-year coaching career, DeLuca has recruited and developed more than a dozen first team All-Americans, two Tewaaraton Award winners, seven Ivy League Player of the Year honorees, and 40-plus All-Ivy League selections. In addition, DeLuca has mentored a pair of Lt. Raymond Enners Award winners, an En. C.M. Kelly Award winner, a Schmeisser Cup award winner, three recipients of the Lt. J.G. Donald MacGlaughlin, Jr. Award, and two Jack Turnbull Award winners. 
 
DeLuca also has gained invaluable international coaching experience representing the United States as a member the U.S. Men's National Team staff in 2014 and will serve with the team again in 2018.
 
Throughout his coaching tenure, DeLuca has invested in the development of the young men under his guidance outside the realm of lacrosse as well, mentoring numerous Academic All-Ivy and Academic All-Atlantic Coast Conference selections, more than a dozen USILA Academic All-America selections, multiple CoSIDA Academic All-America selections, and a pair of Lowe's Senior CLASS Award winners.
 
In the community, DeLuca's student-athletes have been heavily involved in the community, volunteering with such organizations as the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, Children's Dream Factory of Central New York, Mario St. George Boiardi Foundation, Family Reading Partnership of Central New York, children's literacy, Harvard's Team Impact, and Duke's Lead the Way Foundation. 
 
He was a four-year letterwinner on defense for the Big Red, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in nutritional sciences and biochemistry in 1998. He was elected as a co-captain for his senior campaign in 1998, and was voted as the team's Outstanding Senior Athlete for his leadership and dedication on and off the field.
 
A native of Rochester, N.Y, DeLuca is married to the former Laurie Tortorelli, a former All-American goalie for the women's lacrosse team at the University of Delaware. Laurie was a four-year starter in goal in 1999-2002 and led the Hens to the NCAA Tournament in 2000 and an America East conference title in 1999. She still ranks No. 2 all-time at Delaware with 754 saves and No. 3 in minutes played (3,767). 
 
The DeLucas have two daughters, Elizabeth (8) and Anne (6). 
 

Benton A. “Ben” DeLuca
Born: January 29, 1975
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
Playing Career: Four-year letterwinner on defense at Cornell (1995-98). Team captain in 1998; Team Outstanding Senior Athlete, 1998; Team advanced to NCAA Tournament in 1995
Degree: Cornell ‘98 (Nutritional Sciences &  Biochemistry)
Family: Wife Laurie; Daughters, Elizabeth (8), Anne (6)

2000-10 - Assistant/Associate Head Coach, Cornell University (9 NCAA Tournament appearances; ‘09 NCAA National Runner-up; ‘10 NCAA Semifinals; ‘07 NCAA Semifinals)
 

2011-13 - Head Coach, Cornell University (37-11 overall record, 16-2 Ivy League record; ‘13 NCAA Semifinals; ‘11 NCAA Quarterfinals)
 

2014-15 - Assistant Coach, Duke University (‘14 NCAA Champions; ‘15 NCAA Tournament)
 

2016-17 - Associate Head Coach, Harvard University (‘16 Ivy League runner-up)
 

2017-Present - Head Coach, University of Delaware

Matt Rewkowski

Matt Rewkowski will begin his first year as an assistant coach on Ben DeLuca's staff with the University of Delaware men's lacrosse program in 2018.

Rewkowski spent the last five seasons assisting at Georgetown where he served under former UD assistant coach Kevin Warne, following a two-year tenure on DeLuca's staff as associate head coach at Cornell.

“Matt has extensive experience and success playing and coaching lacrosse at the highest levels," DeLuca said. "He is a gifted teacher with a strong work ethic and knows what it takes for our program to be successful on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. Most importantly to me, I believe Matt is a man of high character and outstanding values.

Rewkowski, who will serve as the offensive coordinator, is a 12-year veteran of the coaching ranks following an outstanding playing career at Johns Hopkins and Duke and a pro career with the Denver Outlaws of Major League Lacrosse. He was a senior co-captain for the Johns Hopkins team that captured the 2005 NCAA title and earned his degree there that same spring.

A native of Bethpage, N.Y., he began his coaching career at the University of Denver in 2006 before moving on to Delaware's CAA rival Hofstra where he served four seasons (2007-10) and led the Pride to 36 victories, two CAA titles, and three NCAA Tournament berths. He coached eight All-Americans and 27 All-CAA selections during his tenure and the 2010 team ranked No. 5 nationally in scoring (12.93 gpg).

Rewkowski moved on to Cornell and served for two seasons as DeLuca's associate head coach in 2011-12. He helped lead the Big Red to an NCAA Tournament quarterfinal berth in 2011 when the team won the Ivy League title, went 14-3 overall, and ranked No. 2 nationally in scoring at 12.7 goals per game. That squad was bolstered by USILA national Player of the Year Rob Pannell. Despite the loss of Pannell, the 2012 team still flourished on offense and ranked No. 9 in the nation in scoring (12.0 gpa).

He continued his success at Georgetown where he served the previous five seasons until this past spring. While with the Hoyas, he led consistently high-scoring offensive units that averaged over 10 goals per game twice and helped lead the Hoyas to the Big East Tournament Championship game in 2015. He coached numerous All-Big East selections and mentored 2015 All-American Craig Berge. Rewkowski showed his versatility by moving over to the defensive coordinator position this past spring. He led a unit that allowed nine or fewer goals five times on the season.

Rewkowski and his wife, Julie, are parents to son, Ryan, and daughter, Anna.

Trey Wilkes

Trey Wilkes, a former standout face-off specialist at Ohio State University, joined new University of Delaware men’s lacrosse head coach Ben DeLuca and his staff as a volunteer assistant coach in the fall of 2017.

Wilkes, a native of Ijamsville, Md. in Frederick County, joins DeLuca and assistant coaches Noah Fossner and Matt Rewkowski on the staff. He will work with the face-Off specialists.

“Trey is an impressive young coach with a strong work ethic and a keen understanding of the intricacies of the game of lacrosse,” said DeLuca. “Trey’s values and character align perfectly with Delaware Lacrosse and our student-athletes will benefit greatly from his passion, dedication and knowledge.”

Wilkes attended Urbana High School where he earned All-American honors while helping the Hawks reach three Maryland State championships and four regional finals. He was an Under Armour Underclassmen All-American, was a C. Markland Kelly Award finalist in 2009, and was a member of the National Honor Society. He scored 53 goals and dished out 64 assists for his career and won 73 percent of his face-offs as a senior. He also played football at Urbana and led the team to the regional finals as a junior.

He continued his playing career at Ohio State and was a face-off specialist in 2010-13, helping the Buckeyes post a then program best No. 3 national ranking and an NCAA Elite Eight appearance against Cornell in 2013. He ranked among the top nationally in face-off percentage that season, winning 58 percent of his 300 attempts and leading the squad with 68 groundballs.

He won the team’s Groundball Award as a freshman in 2010 when he led the team with 41 while also winning 94 face-offs. He won 51 face-offs, including going 18 for 18 vs. Mercer, and scooped up 22 groundballs as a sophomore before injuries limited him to just six games in 2012. He played in 51 career games, won 51 percent of his face-offs, and collected 135 groundballs.

During his career at Ohio State, Wilkes earned second team All ECAC honors, was a 2013 Scholar All-American, a two-time All-Academic Big Ten selection, and a three-time Ohio State Scholar Athlete. He also earned the prestigious Lindner Memorial Scholarship for his character and work ethic.

After earning his degree with honors in strategic communications with a minor in general business in 2013 from OSU, he briefly joined the professional ranks and competed for the Baltimore Bayhawks and the Ohio Machine in Major League Lacrosse. He has worked in the medical sales field and since 2011 has served as a director and coach at the Frederick, Md.-based Lax Factory, a training site for aspiring young lacrosse athletes.

Most recently he served as a volunteer coach with the Mt. St. Mary's program in 2016 where he worked with the face-off specialists.