Matt Dence-VFMA
1998 KIng's grad Matt Dence is the new head football coach at Valley Forge Military Academy

King's Graduate Matt Dence Named Head Football Coach at Valley Forge Military Academy

6/23/2011 10:00:21 AM

KING'S GRADUATE MATT DENCE NAMED HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT VALLEY FORGE MILITARY ACADEMY

JUNE 22, 2011

WAYNE, PA --  Matt Dence, a 1998 King's College graduate and former starting tight end with the Monarch football program, has been named the new head football coach at Valley Forge Military Academy, Wayne, Pa.

Dence takes over the program at Valley Forge Military after serving as an assistant coach at Georgetown University for one year. His responsibilities included coaching the Hoyas' corps of wide receivers.

At King's, Dence joined a Monarch program in 1994, the second varsity season at King's after the program had been started from scratch by former head coach Rich Mannello.  Dence earned his undergraduate degree from King's in 1998 stayed with the program for a year as an intern assistant coach.  He continued his education, earning his Master's of Physical Education degree from Springfield College in 2002, serving as a graduate assistant coach in the process. He coached the offensive line and tight ends while at Springfield.

“I am very excited about the opportunity at Valley Forge. Its a great community that shares many of the same principles that I was taught,” Dence stated. “It will definitely be an interesting transition having been a college football coach for my entire career. However, we plan to run the Academy Football Program like a college program. We are preparing these young men to be college football players, college students and most importantly great citizens on college campuses. As a first-time head coach, I have a lot to learn. However, I feel prepared for the challenges ahead because I have worked for some great head coaches who taught me a lot. I was very fortunate to start my career at my alma-mater King's and work for Coach Mannello, who was more than a coach or a boss, he was a father. King's College as a whole taught me a lot and I had wonderful professors who prepared me for this opportunity.”

Dence previously spent three seasons at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, where he served as Offensive Coordinator, while coaching quarterbacks in addition to duties as strength coach. He joined Bates after five years at Yale University, the last three as the team's wide receivers coach. He also served as special teams coordinator.  Dence, who coached the Yale tight ends for two years, mentored All-American Nate Lawrie, who was drafted in the sixth-round by th NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Prior to his arrival at Yale, he was a linebacker coach and video coordinator for Amherst College in 2001. Dence is a native of Philadelphia native is a 1994 graduate of Father Judge High School.

Ay Valley Forge, Dence takes over one of the most recognized prep programs in the nation as 11 former players have gone to career in the NFL, most notably current All-Pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
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