Former Duke Lacrosse Player Named Interim Coach

[LostinVA]

Kevin Cassese Says He Supports Players Charged In Rape Investigation

DURHAM, N.C. -- When the Duke lacrosse team takes the field next season, it will play under a new interim coach who is no stranger to the program. Assistant coach Kevin Cassese was introduced Tuesday as the team's interim coach until a permanent replacement is found.

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Cassese said that he supports the three indicted players, including Evans, a former teammate.

"I find it impossible to believe that he could have the things that he is accused of," Cassese said. "While I never had the opportunity to play alongside Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty, I will, as with David Evans, support them until there is evidence and a court decision that leads me to conclude otherwise."



http://www.wral.com/news/9326758/detail.html

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Glad to know Duke is taking reforming the Lacrosse Team seriously.......

:sarcasm:

[Triana]

1. This guy is a 25-year old KID...

...coaching a prominent team like Duke Men's Lacrosse?

Sorry, but there is NO WAY he's qualified for this, except that he's another rich, white brat. They need someone older and VERY STERN to keep this passel of troublemakers in line. Another troublemaker can't do it.

Get this:

"Cassese said his age and the fact that he was a former player will not deter him from moving the program to a new direction."

Uhh...I ain't buyin that bill of goods. I REALLY hope these guys can clean their act up and I hope like Hell I'm wrong and just being pessimistic and cynical but I cannot see how more of the same is going to change anything.

And the "new" tougher standards of behavior these guys will be held to? They're NOT TOUGH ENOUGH. Their nads are gonna have to be in a vice continually, or I don't think they're going to behave.

I HOPE I'M WRONG. But I dunnoooooo.

[LostinVA]

2. I agree with every point you made

His age, that he's friends with some of the accused, that he is very much a product of the culture. How in the world can he -- or will even want to -- be the stern coach??? And, agreed: the Duke team is a highly ranked NCAA team, in a very competitive league... it leaves a bad taste in my mouth, because it seems like Duke doesn't really care.

[Igel]

3. On the other hand, he's interim.

There wasn't going to be a season for '06/'07. That would have made it damned hard to recruit a new coach, it's early to start a search for '07/'08.

It might be getting a bit late to recruit one--then again, maybe not, I've never seen a coach search before--or perhaps they will find somebody and they need somebody until the permanent guy's on board. I'd guess they recruit coaches for the academic year, and most would be signed by now. Better an interim sucky coach, than a permanent sucky coach.

Lacrosse season is late February-May, so they might yet have time. I'm not sure that there's much training in the summer.

[Triana]

4. he is interrim but...

...they also said he'd be in consideration for the perm coaching job.

Honestly, they need someone from outside that is NOT part of the previous culture. I HOPE they don't hire this kid and expect any appreciable change.

[timber84]

5. Well i guess you also hope that every college cleans

up their act.