Pondering about Pressler's thoughts
Mike Mazzeo
Issue date: 5/30/08 Section: Sports
I can only imagine the mix of emotions that ex-Duke men's lacrosse coach Mike Pressler went through as he watched his former team stunned at the hands of defending National Champion John's Hopkins 10-9 May 24.
Pressler, who currently coaches at Bryant University in Rhode Island, a school that will be elevated to Division I status next season, was forced to resign at Duke following a rape scandal in 2006 that would tarnish his legacy at the university forever.
Pressler was a highly successful coach with the Blue Devils, leading his team to prominence in the ACC while compiling a 153-82 overall record and 10 NCAA Tournament berths.
Not to mention he had a 100 percent graduation rate among his athletes.
However, amidst pressure from University officials and with his job status in jeopardy, Pressler was forced to step down as head lacrosse coach.
Later, his players were found innocent of all charges and those who chose to stay at Duke were given an extra year of eligibility for their canceled 2007 season, but Pressler was no longer considered an elite coach at one of the most respected lacrosse programs in the nation.
If you read my article published Nov. 26, 2007, Pressler came to Drexel to speak with sport management graduate and undergraduate students about the events that would ultimately change his life forever.
"There's a lot of positive things [that came out from my experience]," Pressler said in his speech. I am unsure how he could find any positives out of the situation.
But it does speak volumes about what type of person he is.
And as he watched his former team and many of his former players compete for a championship, one can only wonder what he felt inside.
Maybe he was proud of the team and those players he had recruited out of high school like Matt Danowski.
Danowski became the NCAA all-time leading scorer notching 353 points in his storied career.
The fifth-year senior, who gained an extra season of eligibility due to the canceled season a year ago, tallied 36 goals and 48 assists and was selected No. 2 overall in the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft by the New Jersey Pride May 28.
Pressler, who currently coaches at Bryant University in Rhode Island, a school that will be elevated to Division I status next season, was forced to resign at Duke following a rape scandal in 2006 that would tarnish his legacy at the university forever.
Pressler was a highly successful coach with the Blue Devils, leading his team to prominence in the ACC while compiling a 153-82 overall record and 10 NCAA Tournament berths.
Not to mention he had a 100 percent graduation rate among his athletes.
However, amidst pressure from University officials and with his job status in jeopardy, Pressler was forced to step down as head lacrosse coach.
Later, his players were found innocent of all charges and those who chose to stay at Duke were given an extra year of eligibility for their canceled 2007 season, but Pressler was no longer considered an elite coach at one of the most respected lacrosse programs in the nation.
If you read my article published Nov. 26, 2007, Pressler came to Drexel to speak with sport management graduate and undergraduate students about the events that would ultimately change his life forever.
"There's a lot of positive things [that came out from my experience]," Pressler said in his speech. I am unsure how he could find any positives out of the situation.
But it does speak volumes about what type of person he is.
And as he watched his former team and many of his former players compete for a championship, one can only wonder what he felt inside.
Maybe he was proud of the team and those players he had recruited out of high school like Matt Danowski.
Danowski became the NCAA all-time leading scorer notching 353 points in his storied career.
The fifth-year senior, who gained an extra season of eligibility due to the canceled season a year ago, tallied 36 goals and 48 assists and was selected No. 2 overall in the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft by the New Jersey Pride May 28.
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