Mike Pressler
Encyclopedia
Mike Pressler is an American lacrosse
coach. He is currently the head coach of the Bryant University Bulldogs
as well as the 2010 United States national lacrosse team
. He served as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils
for 16 seasons until he was fired during the 2006 Duke University lacrosse case.
. Pressler served first as the head coach at VMI
for one year before leaving to serve as an assistant coach at Army
under the tutelage of his former coach, Jack Emmer
. After West Point, Pressler was the head coach at Ohio Wesleyan
, leading to his overall record of 229-102 in 22 seasons as a head coach. Pressler attended Washington & Lee University and was a four year starter on both the football and lacrosse teams.
In October 2007, Mike Pressler 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 conference championships, five visits to the final four NCAA National Championships, three NCAA Division III championship game appearances, 29 All-America selections, and five NCAA players of the year. His contributions to the OWU lacrosse program made him the winningest coach (.812) in the University's 50-year lacrosse history and represents 20% of OWU's 25 year participation in the NCAA playoffs.
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 tournament appearances as well as the Division I 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.
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, a political move by the Duke administration, was publicly portrayed by Duke as a resignation, which gave rise to the implication that the coach resigned due to the students' presumed guilt. Pressler had known the players were innocent, and had argued that the lacrosse season should not be canceled until the DNA test results were returned. Pressler has written (with coauthor 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 (ISBN 1-4165-5146-8).
Pressler demanded compensation from Duke for wrongful termination. In early June 2007, Pressler and Duke agreed upon a financial settlement for an undisclosed amount.
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.
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 proceeed with his suit, including discovery
. On March 31, 2010, Duke settled with Pressler. Although terms of the settlement were not disclosed, Duke issued an apology.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
coach. He is currently the head coach of the Bryant University Bulldogs
Bryant University
Bryant University is a private university located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, U.S., that grants the degrees of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and master's degrees in business, taxation and accounting. Until August 2004, it was known as Bryant College...
as well as the 2010 United States national lacrosse team
US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse is the national governing body of men and women's lacrosse in the United States, primarily serving the youth game. It provides a leadership role in virtually every aspect of the game, boasts 63 chapters throughout the United States, and offers programs and services to inspire...
. He served as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils men's lacrosse
The Duke Blue Devils men's lacrosse team represents Duke University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
for 16 seasons until he was fired during the 2006 Duke University lacrosse case.
Before Duke
Pressler attended Wilton High SchoolWilton High School
Wilton High School is a public high school in Wilton, Connecticut, and considered "one of Connecticut’s top performers" in various measures of school success. The current principal is Robert O'Donnell. Previously the long-time-principal was Timothy H. Canty, who also attended the school in the...
. Pressler served first as the head coach at VMI
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
for one year before leaving to serve as an assistant coach at Army
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
under the tutelage of his former coach, Jack Emmer
Jack Emmer
John S. Emmer is a former American lacrosse coach. He retired in 2005 as the winningest lacrosse coach in NCAA history by number of wins with 326. This mark was surpassed in 2008 by Jim Berkman of Division III Salisbury University...
. After West Point, Pressler was the head coach at Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
, leading to his overall record of 229-102 in 22 seasons as a head coach. Pressler attended Washington & Lee University and was a four year starter on both the football and lacrosse teams.
In October 2007, Mike Pressler 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 conference championships, five visits to the final four NCAA National Championships, three NCAA Division III championship game appearances, 29 All-America selections, and five NCAA players of the year. His contributions to the OWU lacrosse program made him the winningest coach (.812) in the University's 50-year lacrosse history and represents 20% of OWU's 25 year participation in the NCAA playoffs.
Duke
Pressler became coach of the Duke Blue DevilsDuke Blue Devils men's lacrosse
The Duke Blue Devils men's lacrosse team represents Duke University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
in 1991. Over 16 seasons he compiled a 153-82 record at Duke, winning the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
championship three times, and leading his team to 10 NCAA tournament appearances as well as the Division I 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
F. Morris Touchstone Award
The F. Morris Touchstone Award is an award given by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association to the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division I Lacrosse Head Coach. The award was first presented in 1958....
in 2005.
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, a political move by the Duke administration, was publicly portrayed by Duke as a resignation, which gave rise to the implication that the coach resigned due to the students' presumed guilt. Pressler had known the players were innocent, and had argued that the lacrosse season should not be canceled until the DNA test results were returned. Pressler has written (with coauthor 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 (ISBN 1-4165-5146-8).
Pressler demanded compensation from Duke for wrongful termination. In early June 2007, Pressler and Duke agreed upon a financial settlement for an undisclosed amount.
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.
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 proceeed with his suit, including discovery
Discovery (law)
In U.S.law, discovery is the pre-trial phase in a lawsuit in which each party, through the law of civil procedure, can obtain evidence from the opposing party by means of discovery devices including requests for answers to interrogatories, requests for production of documents, requests for...
. On March 31, 2010, Duke settled with Pressler. Although terms of the settlement were not disclosed, Duke issued an apology.