nik clinton - promotion
Randall K. Wolf

Lacrosse

Clinton earns promotion on lacrosse coaching staff

LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI head lacrosse coach James Purpura announced Tuesday the promotion of assistant coach Nik Clinton to add the title of offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the Keydet lacrosse program. Clinton, whose title was previously assistant coach, joined the Keydet coaching staff in 2022.

"Nik has earned this opportunity," Purpura said. "Since arriving in Lexington, Nik has been a consummate professional. What was most impressive was his character and alignment with our vision and core values. He has built great relationships with the men in the program. Nik is humble and his loyalty has not gone unnoticed. I am excited to work alongside Nik to continue to build this program into a conference contender annually."
 
Since arriving on post, Clinton has assisted head coach James Purpura with the Keydets' offense and oversaw a much-improved Keydet face-off unit. In the 2023 season, the Keydet offense had its best season in 26 years. The face-off unit also improved by nearly 10 percent and most importantly, the Keydets had their highest number of wins in 15 years. Under Clinton's tutelage, freshman Jack Rogers was named to the All-MAAC Rookie team.

Prior to VMI, Clinton served as an assistant coach at St. Bonaventure. In Clinton's second season on staff, Clinton help lead the Bonnies to a MAAC regular season championship and their best season in program history with 11 wins.  A native of Loveland, Colorado, Clinton is a 2019 graduate of St. Bonaventure where he was a two-year captain of the rebirth of the Bonnies' lacrosse program. He was named the 2019 Unsung Hero award winner in 2019 and the Brian Moretti Award winner in 2020.

"I want to say thank you to Coach Purpura for giving me the opportunity to be promoted into this role within the VMI lacrosse program," Clinton said. "I am humbled and honored for this opportunity to continue to help move this program forward and represent VMI. I believe in what Coach Purpura has started building here and look forward to doing my job to help the young men of this program achieve our goals."
 
The Keydets are set to matriculate Purpura's third recruiting class, which anticipates 16 rats arriving on post in August. The Keydets have once again been able to secure multiple high school All-Americans in what should be another promising class.
 
 
 
 



 
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Players Mentioned

Jack Rogers

#13 Jack Rogers

FO
5' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jack Rogers

#13 Jack Rogers

5' 8"
Freshman
FO