Throughout the country, there are college students who feel uncomfortable about attending their college or university. For some students, though, transferring can be the key to feeling better about their situation. Junior Sean Kley was one of those individuals.
He began his college education at Muhlenberg College as a freshman. The school in Allentown, P.A. which is approximately an hour and 20 minutes from his New Jersey home, was not the right fit for him.
“I first attended Muhlenberg my first semester out of (high school),” he said. “I decided to transfer here because I knew I wanted to become a teacher. Also, my brother attended college here, and I knew he loved it.”
The College is only a short distance away from Hopewell Valley Central High School, and while attending high school, Kley played both football and lacrosse.
As a lacrosse player, he scored his lone goal against Notre Dame High School on April 16, 2011.
“It was (a) great experience,” Kley said. “I fell in love with both sports because of all of the good times and friends they provided me on a daily basis.”
He returned to the football field last year where he experienced playing college football for the first time. In his first year in a Lions jersey, he started eight games and played in 10 total games. He also had at least one tackle in every game and had a season-high six tackles in the Ursinus and Morrisville State games.
“I’ve had all positive experiences with (the College’s) Coach (Wayne) Dickens,” Kley said. “My first year playing football here was his first year coaching (at the school). The first couple of weeks of (last) year were new for the team and him. We were all still getting to know each other – the new coaches and how they liked to function. Once we all got on board and got on the right page, we really started to click as a team and became successful.”
This season, he has played in all three games. He has 25 tackles, with 2.5 tackles for a loss, and one pass deflection as of last week.
On Saturday, Sept. 20, Kley had a career day against No. 1 ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater. He led the defense with 15 tackles and earned the Athletic Department’s Male Athlete of the Week following the game.
“It was great and (a) new experience playing the No. 1 team in the country,” Kley said. “Not only was it different playing a team, who has won a number of national championships, but it was different playing a team all the way from Wisconsin. In the end, we came up on the short end of the stick. We showed some glimpses of really good football in all three sides of the ball, but (we) had a couple mental mistakes that let them show why they are ranked the No. 1 team in the country.”
As the team embarks on future conference play, Kley will continue to be a leader on the defensive side of the ball. Last year, the Lions began NJAC play with a four-game win streak.
“After the Whitewater game, we are working hard on improving to perform as good as we knew we can play 100 percent of the time, not just some plays here and there,” he said. “We have a positive attitude and are looking forward to competing for our overall goal of winning the NJAC.”
Following this season, Kley, a junior, will have one more year left to play close to home. After graduation, he would like to teach and coach at the same high school as his brother.
“Hopefully, we will be a powerhouse coaching-brother combo,” he said. “That is one of my main future goals. Last spring, I was actually the seventh grade lacrosse coach for the middle school I went to. I look forward to doing it again after this football season as well.”
“I love coaching the little guys,” he said. “It brings me back to when I was younger and still lets me stay involved in the sport of lacrosse.”
