WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT MIKE PRESSLER

SMITHFIELD, RI -  The Bryant University Department of Athletics and Recreation announce the hiring of Mike Pressler as its new men's lacrosse coach.  On the heels of this announcement, several members of the lacrosse community have come forward to express their support of Coach Pressler.

Pressler was previously the head men's lacrosse coach at Duke University for the past 16 seasons, compiling a 153-82 record with three Atlantic Coast Conference championships, 10 N.C.A.A. tournament berths and an appearance in the 2005 Division I men's lacrosse championship game.   

Jack Emmer, retired from West Point as the NCAA's all-time winningest coach with 326 career victories. He is one of only two coaches to have guided three teams (Cortland, Washington and Lee, Army) to the NCAA tournament. "Mike Pressler could very well be the best lacrosse coach in the country", says Emmer.  "He is a man of great character who stood up for his players when they needed him.  He is a very demanding and dedicated coach with high principles and I know his players at Bryant will come to love and respect him as they did at Duke.  Bryant University has stepped up to the plate and recognized Mike's outstanding coaching ability and in time they will reap the benefits".

Richie Meade, Head Lacrosse Coach at the United States Naval Academy respected coaching colleague says, "I am ecstatic that Mike Pressler is back in coaching. He is a man of tremendous commitment to his players.  I applaud Bryant for picking Mike to lead their lacrosse program, as I know he will do an outstanding job at Bryant."

Charlie Blanchard, a Rhode Island West Bay resident who played under Pressler for three years and coached alongside him at Ohio Wesleyan for two years gave his insight into what makes Pressler so special .  "Coach gets the best out of each of his players.  His attention to detail and his ability to get his players to focus on the little things means big results in close games." After playing for Pressler for two seasons, Blanchard was named DIII midfielder of the Year in 1987 and ultimately to the OWU Hall of Fame in 1995. Blanchard added, "He elevated my game and as a team we went back-to-back-to back national championship games (1987-89) and were ranked the #1 team in the nation, in my opinion, he is simply one of the top lacrosse coaches in the country."  

A three-time A.C.C. Coach of the Year and 2005 U.S.I.L.A. National Coach of the Year, Pressler's overall head coaching record stands at 229-102 in 22 seasons.  During his tenure at Duke University, the men's lacrosse program posted a 100 percent graduation rate. 

"The Presslers are our dear friends," said Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski in a statement on http://www.goduke.com/ on June 20.  "He is a good man.  His players, former players and families swear by him."

Joe Alberici, Head Men's Lacrosse Coach at Army spoke about Mike Pressler's selection as the Head Coach at Bryant University, " My heartfelt congratulations to both Bryant University and Coach Pressler, this is truly a win-win situation.  It did not take long for Coach to bring the Ohio Wesleyan and Duke programs to the top of Division III and I respectively, and I will not be surprised to see the same results at Bryant."

For additional quotes from former players, and additional coaches, regarding Mike Pressler please go to http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/28870.html

Bryant University, located in Smithfield, R.I., is a Division II member of the Northeast-10 Conference.  Following its inaugural season in 2000, Bryant's men's lacrosse program has an overall winning percentage of .652 (75-40) over the past seven seasons.  In the Northeast-10 Conference, where Bryant has reached the conference championship game twice in the last three seasons (2005, 2004), the Bulldogs own a conference mark of 46-16 (.752).