CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia men’s lacrosse associate head coach Kevin Cassese has been named offensive coordinator of the New York Atlas – the reigning champions of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) – the organization announced Monday (April 13).
Cassese will continue in his role on staff at Virginia while joining a strong UVA contingent on the Atlas, including former Cavalier standout attackmen Xander Dickson and reigning PLL Most Valuable Player Connor Shellenberger, who is also currently in his first year as an assistant coach at UVA.
A new era on the sidelines 🤘
— New York Atlas (@PLLAtlas) April 13, 2026
Kyle Sweeney and Kevin Cassese have been named Assistant Coaches for the New York Atlas. pic.twitter.com/XL6aj10yd8
Atlas head coach Mike Pressler also coached Cassese during his standout playing career at Duke, where he was three-time All-American, two-time Tewaaraton Award finalist, the 2001 ACC Player of the Year, and the 2002 recipient of the Lt. Donald MacLaughlin Jr. Award, given annually to the nation’s top midfielder.
“It’s honestly a dream come true,” Cassese said. “Coach [Mike] Pressler has been there for me at every turn of my career. We’ve gone through a lot together — the worst of times and the best of times. I’m just thrilled I get the chance to return the favor and be there for him for once. It’s going to be so much fun, and I can’t wait to reunite with him.
“One of the greatest coaching years I’ve had in my career was coaching [Shellenberger] in his final year at Virginia,” Cassese said. “Being able to reunite with Connor and develop a relationship with Xander [Dickson] as a Virginia alum, Tyler Carpenter was a little kid around the Duke program when I was there — there’s a lot of connections with the Atlas players.”
Cassese also coached with Pressler at Duke in 2006 and played for Pressler on Team USA in 2010, when they won a world championship.
“He was an elite player, and he knows how to coach elite players,” Pressler said. “Kevin is an incredible communicator. You see what he did at Lehigh and Virginia with his offensive IQ. He’s an elite coach, and I put him up there with that top handful of guys moving forward.”
Cassese, who is currently in his third season at UVA, helped steer Shellenberger and the Cavaliers to Championship Weekend in 2024. That year, Shellenberger was also named the recipient of the Lt. Col. JI Turnbull Outstanding Attackman Award, presented annually to the nation’s top attackman, and became UVA’s only four-time USILA First Team All-American. This year, Cassese’s Virginia offense currently leads the ACC and is second nationally in assists per game (9.50).
Prior to his collegiate coaching career, Cassese played Major League Lacrosse (MLL) for the Philadelphia Barrage, Boston Cannons and Rochester Rattlers.
