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Report: Virginia Lacrosse Hiring Lehigh Head Coach Kevin Cassese as Associate Head Coach

After spending the last 16 years as the head coach at Lehigh, Cassese joins Lars Tiffany's staff as UVA's associate head coach and offensive coordinator
Matt Newton|
Lehigh Athletics

The UVA men's lacrosse program has reportedly found its replacement for departed offensive coordinator Sean Kirwan. 

According to a report from Inside Lacrosse on Monday afternoon, Virginia has hired Lehigh head coach Kevin Cassese as the team's associate head coach and offensive coordinator. 

Cassese has spent the last 16 seasons as the head coach at Lehigh, making this a surprising and remarkable hire for Virginia, as Lars Tiffany was able to lure in Cassese, who has been mentioned as a top candidate for several significant head coaching jobs in the last few seasons. Bringing in a coach with such extensive head coaching experience as Cassese is a big victory for Tiffany and the Cavaliers. 

"For me, it was simply the right time for a change and the right time for a new challenge on my career path," Cassese told Inside Lacrosse. "This opportunity is unique to me and will challenge me in new and different ways. I welcome that opportunity for growth and at the same time, I also believe I can make an impact and help to further elevate UVA lacrosse." 

Cassese departs Lehigh as the program's all-time winningest head coach with 139 victories at a 57.0% winning percentage. He coached the Mountain Hawks to a 10-5 record in his final season at Lehigh in 2023. Cassese is a two-time Patriot League Coach of the Year, coached 24 All-Americans, and led the Mountain Hawks to three Patriot League Tournament Championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances, with the most recent one coming in 2021. 

An inductee to the U.S. Lacrosse National Hall of Fame, Cassese was a three-time All-American in his playing career at Duke, helping the Blue Devils win two ACC Championships and earn three trips to the NCAA Tournament. Cassese was the ACC Player of the Year in 2001, the nation's top midfielder in 2002, and a two-time Tewaaraton Finalist. 

Cassese began his coaching career at Stony Brook, when Lars Tiffany hired him as an assistant in Tiffany's first year as a collegiate head coach. 

"Lars and I go back a long time," Cassese told Inside Lacrosse. "He gave me my first job as a division one lacrosse coach when he was a first-year head coach at Stony Brook University in 2004-05. For 20 years, he has been a mentor, confidant, and great friend. Lars is the best in the business, and it is exciting to be reunited with him in this capacity."

Cassese fills the void on Virginia's coaching staff at offensive coordinator left by Sean Kirwan, who was hired as the head coach at Dartmouth earlier in June. Kirwan was widely considered one of the top assistants in college lacrosse and one of the most brilliant offensive minds in the sport. Replacing him is going to take some doing, but Lars Tiffany has taken his best shot at doing just that with the hire of Cassese, who brings in an abundance of coaching experience and enthusiasm for the opportunity to coach at Virginia. 

"There is so much to love about UVA. It starts at the top with coach Lars Tiffany and athletic director Carla Williams. I cannot thank them enough for making this opportunity a reality for me and my family," Cassese told Inside Lacrosse.  "[Lars Tiffany] has built a tremendous culture within the UVA program. The quality of the men I will get to work with is second to none. Culture, character, and a championship tradition are all synonymous with UVA lacrosse. I can't wait to contribute to that championship tradition. I am also thrilled for my family to experience living in Charlottesville and to have my kids grow up fully immersed in UVA athletics and the UVA community. UVA is truly a special place and our family will get to experience that together."

In addition to filling Sean Kirwan's former role as offensive coordinator, Kevin Cassese will also be the associate head coach at Virginia, which will be the only mprogram in the ACC to have an associate head coach on staff. 

See more Virginia men's lacrosse news and content: Virginia Men's Lacrosse on Sports Illustrated

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Matt Newton
MATT NEWTON

Matt launched Virginia Cavaliers On SI in August of 2021 and has since served as the site's publisher and managing editor, covering all 23 NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. He is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and graduated from UVA in May of 2021.

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