Mike Pressler

Last updated

Mike Pressler
Current position
TitleHead coach
Team Atlas LC
Conference PLL
Record7-2
Biographical details
Born (1960-02-27) February 27, 1960 (age 64)
Wilton, Connecticut, United States
Alma mater Washington and Lee University
Playing career
1979–1982 Washington and Lee
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1983 Virginia Military Institute [1]
1984–1985 Army (assistant) [2]
1986–1990 Ohio Wesleyan [3]
1991–2006 Duke [2]
2007–2022 Bryant [4]
Head coaching record
Overall385-205
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Mike Pressler (born February 27, 1960) is an American lacrosse coach, who is currently the head coach and general manager of Atlas Lacrosse Club of the Premier Lacrosse League [5] as well as the varsity head coach for Highland Park High School's lacrosse team (Highland Park, TX). [6] He was previously the head coach of the Bryant Bulldogs from 2007 until his retirement after the 2022 season. [7] [8] He served as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils for 16 seasons until he was forced to resign during the Duke lacrosse case in 2006. He received the F. Morris Touchstone Award for the men's college lacrosse coach of the year in 2005. In 2010, he coached the United States men's national lacrosse team to a gold medal. [4] [9]

Contents

Career

Pressler attended Wilton High School, then Washington & Lee University, graduating in 1982. He was an outstanding lacrosse and football player, a four-year starter in both sports.

Pressler was the head coach at Virginia Military Institute for one year before leaving to serve as an assistant coach at the United States Military Academy under the tutelage of his former coach, Jack Emmer.

After West Point, Pressler was the head coach at Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU). In October 2007, he was inducted into the Ohio Wesleyan University Hall of Fame. During his 5-year tenure at OWU from 1986 through 1990, Pressler amassed a 69–16 record, four NCAC championships, five visits to the NCAA Division III semi-finals, three NCAA Division III Championship game appearances, 29 All-American selections, and five NCAA Division III players of the year. His contributions to the OWU lacrosse program made him the winningest coach (.812) in OWU's over 50-year lacrosse history.

Pressler was hired by Bryant University to lead their lacrosse team in 2007. In June 2022, Pressler announced his retirement from coaching.

After his retirement, Pressler was announced as the head coach for Highland Park High School's lacrosse program. In his first season at the helm, he led the Scots to a Texas High School Lacrosse League Class AA state championship. [10]

Duke

Pressler became coach of the Duke Blue Devils in 1991. Over 16 seasons he compiled a 153–82 record at Duke, winning the Atlantic Coast Conference championship three times and leading his team to 10 NCAA Division I tournament appearances as well as the men's national championship game in 2005. Pressler was voted ACC Coach of the Year three times and also was honored as the USILA National Coach of the Year in 2005. [8] [11]

He was fired in 2006 in the wake of allegations of rape against three athletes in the program that proved to be baseless. Pressler's firing was publicly portrayed by Duke as a resignation, which gave rise to the implication that the coach resigned due to the students' presumed guilt.[ citation needed ] Pressler believed the players were innocent and had argued that the lacrosse season should not be canceled until the DNA test results were returned. [12] Pressler has written (with co-author Don Yaeger) a book giving his view of the incident, It's Not About the Truth: The Untold Story of the Duke Lacrosse Rape Case and the Lives It Shattered.

Pressler demanded compensation from Duke for wrongful termination. In early June 2007, Pressler and Duke agreed upon a financial settlement for an undisclosed amount. [13] [14]

Then in October 2007, Pressler filed suit against Duke, alleging the university broke the terms of the confidential settlement. Pressler asserted that Duke broke the terms of the settlement when he was slandered by Duke senior vice president John Burness, who made disparaging comments about him, saying the difference between Pressler and the current lacrosse coach was "night and day." The suit sought to void the settlement and to pursue damages in a trial rather than by arbitration, as specified in his contract. [15]

The trial judge ruled for Pressler's claims, and was upheld by the Court of Appeals on September 1, 2009. Pressler's obligation to submit his claims to arbitration was voided by the June settlement. Pressler was free to proceed with his suit, including discovery. [16] On March 31, 2010, the final day before discovery would start, Duke settled with Pressler. Although terms of the settlement were not disclosed, Duke issued an apology. [17]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
VMI Keydets (Independent)(1983–1983)
1983VMI 7–4
VMI:7–4 (.636)
Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops (NCAC)(1986–1990)
1986Ohio Wesleyan 12–43–12ndNCAA D3 Semifinals
1987Ohio Wesleyan 14–34–01stNCAA D3 Runner-up
1988Ohio Wesleyan 15–24–01stNCAA D3 Runner-up
1989Ohio Wesleyan 13–44–01stNCAA D3 Runner-up
1990Ohio Wesleyan 15–35–01stNCAA D3 Semifinals
Ohio Wesleyan:69–16 (.812)20–1 (.952)
Duke Blue Devils (Atlantic Coast Conference)(1991–2006)
1991Duke 7–50–34th
1992Duke 7–71–23rd NCAA First Round
1993Duke 9–51–23rd
1994Duke 10–61–2T-3rd NCAA Quarterfinals
1995Duke 12–40–34th NCAA First Round
1996Duke 6–61–2T-3rd
1997Duke 12–42–12nd NCAA Semifinals
1998Duke 11–41–23rd NCAA Quarterfinals
1999Duke 13–32–1T-1st NCAA First Round
2000Duke 11–52–12nd NCAA Quarterfinals
2001Duke 11–62–1T-1st NCAA First Round
2002Duke 8–71–2T-3rd NCAA Quarterfinals
2003Duke 8–70–34th
2004Duke 5–80–34th
2005Duke 17–33–01st NCAA Runner-up
2006Duke 6–21–13rd Season canceled after 8 games.
Duke:153–82 (.651)18–29 (.383)
Bryant Bulldogs (Northeast-10)(2007–2008)
2007Bryant 11–49–01st
2008Bryant 14–49–12nd NCAA D2 Semifinals
Bryant Bulldogs (Independent)(2009–2010)
2009Bryant 10–5
2010Bryant 12–5
Bryant Bulldogs (Northeast)(2011–present)
2011Bryant 8–93–2T-3rd
2012Bryant 14–44–12nd
2013Bryant 8–114–11st NCAA First Round
2014Bryant 16–55–12nd NCAA Quarterfinals
2015Bryant 8–104–2T-2nd NCAA Play-in
2016Bryant 10-55-1T-1st
2017Bryant 11-84-2T-2nd NCAA First Round
2018Bryant 8-75-12nd
2019Bryant 3-111-56th
2020Bryant 3-40-0T-1st
2021Bryant 9-45-23rd NCAA First Round
Bryant:148–96 (.607)58–19 (.753)
Total:377–198 (.656)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

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References

  1. ↑ "Perma | www.vmikeydets.com". Perma.cc. April 9, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Perma | Mike Pressler Biography - Duke University Blue Devils | Official Athletics Site - GoDuke.com". Perma.cc. April 9, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Perma | www.battlingbishops.com". Perma.cc. April 9, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Mike Pressler". Bryant University. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  5. ↑ PLL (March 2, 2023). "Premier Lacrosse League Names Mike Pressler Head Coach and General Manager of Atlas Lacrosse Club". Premier Lacrosse League. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  6. ↑ USA Lacrosse (June 7, 2022). "Mike Pressler Named Head Coach at Highland Park (Texas)".
  7. ↑ "Mike Pressler announces retirement after 16 years at Bryant". June 3, 2022.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. 1 2 "Mike Pressler Named Men's Lacrosse Coach at Bryant University". Bulldogs News. August 6, 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Pressler Named Head Coach of 2010 U.S. Men's Lacrosse Team". US Lacrosse. Archived from the original on June 28, 2009. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
  10. ↑ Dallas Morning News (May 14, 2023). "Highland Park Rallies for 12th State Championship".
  11. ↑ "2005 USILA Awards". InsideLacrosse.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  12. ↑ Bill Stump (March 2008), "Convicted without trial", Men's Health, p. 118,120
  13. ↑ "Duke, ex-coach settle up". Raleigh News and Observer. June 8, 2007. Retrieved June 12, 2007.[ dead link ]
  14. ↑ Beard, Aaron (June 8, 2007). "Duke, Pressler settle". The Boston Globe . Associated Press.
  15. ↑ "Former Duke Lacrosse Coach Sues School - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News". FOXNews.com. October 12, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  16. ↑ O'Connor, Ian (September 1, 2009). "Ex-Duke lacrosse coach Mike Pressler wins argument in North Carolina Court of Appeals". ESPN . Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Duke settles lawsuit by former lacrosse coach Pressler". Triangle.bizjournals.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
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