Every Monday, TCNJ Athletics will check in with an alum from one of its programs. Today, its 2017 graduate Eric Klacik, an alum of the men's basketball team. Klacik was an accounting major and a finance minor from Basking Ridge, N.J. Klacik was a key four-year guard for the Lions and is ranked fourth all-time in program history in three-pointers with 172.

1. In a paragraph or two, talk about what you've done since you've left TCNJ:

• After graduation, I started working with KPMG (Big 4 Accounting Firm) as an external auditor, getting to work with many different types of clients as an auditor and special advisor for their companies. More recently, I have moved to Merck & Co. as an internal auditor and am working in the advisory space for the company. With this role (and when it is finally safe), I will have the opportunity to travel around the globe to work with different Merck sites and develop process improvement mainly in the global finance department, but also the company as a whole. I am really enjoying working for a company with a mission to save lives and personally tackle the challenges that have come my way.
• Outside of work, I have continued to play with some TCNJ men's basketball alumni and other friends in men's basketball leagues around the Hoboken area and other parts of the state. I have maintained a steady golf game during the summer and enjoyed leisurely travel with my vacation time.       

        2. What has been your favorite professional experience?

• While at KPMG, I was able to work in Silicon Valley, California for two months on a project with a computer technology startup client. Leading this project was extremely eye-opening for myself as a professional, but also working with the client team in that specific industry was really cool. While in California, I was able to visit other parts of the state such as San Diego, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Muir Woods, and many others. It was an awesome experience both for professional development and to see California for the first time.

        
        3. Do you stay in contact with any of your old teammates or coaches?

• Yes, I still speak to the coaches pretty frequently. They have been great mentors for me in my early professional career and are always lending a helping hand (we also have had some great golf matches over the summers post-graduation). As for my teammates, many of us are still very good friends and talk on a frequent basis. We love to follow how the team is doing, especially with some of our former teammates as coaches now.

        4. What is one thing you miss most about playing sports at TCNJ?

• I miss being part of the TCNJ Athletics community just as a whole. I think one of the best things about being a TCNJ student-athlete was the support and friendships you build not only with your team, but with all of the other teams at TCNJ. The sense of camaraderie in the athletics community made it so much fun to step onto the court for TCNJ and compete with my teammates. 

 

• Also, although at the time some of it seemed grueling, I do miss just being an athlete in general. The early morning lifts, conditioning, film sessions, traveling, team lunches and dinners, and hanging out with teammates outside of practice are just a few of the things that can be taken for granted by college athletes. These experiences have definitely left me with a ton of great and fun memories to cherish.

 

        5. What about what you miss most about being a student at TCNJ, either academically or socially?

• Academically, I miss the challenge of balancing schoolwork and athletics at the same time. Socially, I miss living near all my friends, seeing everyone often and being around campus. I also miss the Burrito Station in Eick and Two Brothers Pizza down the road from campus.

 

6. What is your favorite memory as a TCNJ athlete either in competition, in practice, traveling or socially?

• Although it is very hard to pick one, a memory that sticks out to me is upsetting Ramapo (#5 in the country at the time) on my Senior Day in Packer Hall. The crowd was unbelievable that day, and capping off Senior Day with my teammates and a huge conference upset is always sweet. 

 

7. Is there anything your coaches said during your playing career that still sticks with you now?

• I think the main thing our coaches and team really focused on was great communication (on and off the court) and doing the little things right. Since basketball is a very fast-paced game, focusing on the little things and consistently communicating with our teammates helped us simplify our game plan and approach to competition. As I have transitioned into the working world, I am constantly reminded on a day-to-day basis how these two focus points are also crucial for success. I am still working in teams every week at work, so being a good communicator is essential for our project's success and meeting deadlines.

 

8. What would you say to a student-athlete who is considering attending TCNJ?

• It is an incredible academic and athletic school to be a part of. The athletic department and each team support each other in a way that makes it extremely fun to be a student-athlete at the college and put on the TCNJ jersey. You will get to compete against the best of the best in Division III competition and create lifelong friendships during your time. Academically, you will be challenged to be a great student and presented with great professional opportunities to begin your career.

 

9. Do you have any advice for current TCNJ student-athletes?

• Embrace all four years of your time at TCNJ. It is an extremely rewarding journey that will definitely involve some challenges. Looking back on my time, those challenges were the moments that defined myself and our team/program.  

 
Anything else, feel free to add now:

• Thanks for having me, Go Lions!