Former Duke Lacrosse coach rediscovers success at Bryant

March 2, 2016 5:43 pm

By Alana Cerrone

acerrone@abc6.com

@Alana_Cerrone

After Coach Mike Pressler left Duke University, he thought his coaching career may be over.

He was desperate to get his family out of the Duke community that had turned its back on him, so he took the first job offer that came his way at a small Division II school in Smithfield.

Now, ten years later, it’s his loyalty to Bryant University that’s brought the team all the way to the NCAA Quarterfinals.

"Your inner core as a competitive athlete will be tested to its limits…"

Bryant lacrosse coach Mike Pressler speaks to his team from experience.

Ten years ago, in March of 2006, he was forced to leave Duke University, the top-ranked team he coached for 16 years, amidst scandal.

"It was a chapter in our lives we weren’t necessarily proud of…”

Pressler was Duke’s head lacrosse coach when 3 of his players were accused of rape -accusations that proved to be false.

"It sucked the life outta you…as I remember back 10 years ago…”

A three-time ACC Coach of the Year…but now, shunned.

But at the end of that summer, Pressler got a call from what was Bryant College.

"We were looking for a coach. We wanted someone who might take us to D1. "

Bryant’s President Ron Machtley saw the opportunity in Pressler that others shied away from. "Mike made it very clear that he didn’t care if it was Division I or II… he wanted to be a lacrosse coach…and he made it clear if we gave him that chance he would give us a commitment."

Ten years later, his team’s seen four straight Northeast Conference titles and three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. Team Captain Gunnar Waldt says, "the intensity and passion and drive… he still has that same drive and commitment it’s pretty cool it’s pretty remarkable to play for somebody like that."

"You’re ready to go every day. For 32 years I’ve been ready to go. We’re mentally physically and emotionally tough."

Pressler looks back – briefly – on how far he’s come. "It’s the journey. It’s the journey from where we were to where we are today. The best part of the end of the Duke case was the beginning of our time here at Bryant.”

Pressler’s loyalty includes turning down job offers from the schools that ten years ago wouldn’t give him a chance.

"I don’t see anything bigger and better now – the grass is not greener. It’s their loyalty to me, too."

"When you go back 10 years ago…I had no thought we would be a D1 powerhouse or be where we are today we didn’t even have a turf field…there are very few people in life when given the opportunity to leave for a better job with more money say you know I respect what you did and I’m willing to stay with you and build a program…but that’s what Mike Pressler is," says Machtley.

He’s not the only Pressler at Bryant, either. His wife is an Academic Advisor and his daughter will be a freshman there next year.