PROVIDENCE, R.I. – JWU (Providence) Director of Athletics Dana Garfield has announced the hiring of Jeff Cohen as men's lacrosse head coach. He replaces Tim Murphy, who stepped down this summer to pursue other career avenues.

Cohen comes to JWU following 16 years as the head coach at his alma mater, Clark (MA) University. A three-time Coach of the Year (Pilgrim League 2020 & 2011, New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) in 2019), Cohen begins his tenure at the helm of the Wildcat lax program with 107 career wins.

A 2002 graduate of Clark, Cohen put together a six-year stretch at Clark from 2014-19 where the Cougars posted a 58-39 record (.598 winning pct.) and qualified for the NEWMAC playoffs three times, advancing to the semifinals in 2014 and 2019, and the NEWMAC Championship in 2017.

"Jeff has a proven track record of success at the Division III level for nearly 20 years," said Garfield. "Once we began speaking to Jeff about his vision for our program, he quickly emerged as the leading candidate for the position. We're thrilled to have him as a Wildcat and look forward to this new chapter of JWU lacrosse."

Cohen arrived at Clark following a five-year stint as an assistant coach at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. With the Red Raiders, Cohen helped lead them to a top 10 national ranking and the program's first-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament.

"I want to thank Dana Garfield and the search committee for the opportunity to be the next head men's lacrosse coach at Johnson & Wales University," said Cohen, who resides in nearby Warwick, R.I. "I am extremely grateful to join the JWU community and carry on the tradition that former head coaches Tim Murphy and Nick Coppola began. I cannot wait to meet the current student-athletes, families, alumni and recruits as we move into a new era of Johnson & Wales lacrosse and enter the Conference of New England."

Cohen cut his teeth in the coaching ranks as an assistant at MIT in 2003 before moving on to work with both the lacrosse and football programs at Western New England (2004).

One of the all-time greats at Clark, Cohen was a two-year captain who graduated No. 5 in points with 130 (64-66-130). For his efforts, he received multiple all-conference honors. He received a Merit Award in 2002, which is given annually to senior student-athletes who have made a significant impact on their sport. Cohen wrapped his collegiate career with an appearance in the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) East/West All-Star Game.

Cohen holds a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in sociology.