{{short description|American lacrosse coach (born 1960)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox college coach | name = Mike Pressler | image = | alt = | caption = | current_title = Head coach | current_team = Atlas LC | current_conference = PLL | current_record = 7-2 | contract = | overall_record = 385-205 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|02|27}} | birth_place = Wilton, Connecticut, United States | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = Washington and Lee University | awards = * PLL Coach of the Year (2024) * 2005 F. Morris Touchstone Award | player_years1 = 1979–1982 | player_team1 = Washington and Lee | coach_years1 = 1983 | coach_team1 = Virginia Military Institute<ref>{{cite web|url=http://perma.cc/72TD-5UZC |title=Perma | www.vmikeydets.com |website=Perma.cc |date=2015-04-09 |accessdate=2016-03-07}}</ref> | coach_years2 = 1984–1985 | coach_team2 = Army (assistant)<ref name="perma.cc">{{cite web|url=http://perma.cc/F9NT-22AK |title=Perma | Mike Pressler Biography - Duke University Blue Devils | Official Athletics Site - GoDuke.com |website=Perma.cc |date=2015-04-09 |accessdate=2016-03-07}}</ref> | coach_years3 = 1986–1990 | coach_team3 = Ohio Wesleyan<ref>{{cite web|url=http://perma.cc/NJ9G-2RKR |title=Perma | www.battlingbishops.com |website=Perma.cc |date=2015-04-09 |accessdate=2016-03-07}}</ref> | coach_years4 = 1991–2006 | coach_team4 = Duke<ref name="perma.cc"/> | coach_years5 = 2007–2022 | coach_team5 = Bryant<ref name=bryant>{{cite web |url=http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mlax/Coaches/Mike_Pressler |title=Mike Pressler |publisher=Bryant University |accessdate=October 25, 2017}}</ref>}}
'''Mike Pressler''' (born February 27, 1960) is an American lacrosse coach, who is currently the head coach and general manager of Atlas Lacrosse Club of the Premier Lacrosse League<ref>{{Cite web |last=PLL |date=2023-03-02 |title=Premier Lacrosse League Names Mike Pressler Head Coach and General Manager of Atlas Lacrosse Club |url=https://premierlacrosseleague.com/articles/premier-lacrosse-league-names-mike-pressler-head-coach-and-general-manager-of-atlas-lacrosse-club |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=Premier Lacrosse League |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as the varsity head coach for Highland Park High School's lacrosse team (Highland Park, TX).<ref>{{Cite web |last=USA Lacrosse |date=2022-06-07 |title=Mike Pressler Named Head Coach at Highland Park (Texas) |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/high-school/boys/mike-pressler-named-head-coach-at-highland-park-texas}}</ref> He was previously the head coach of the Bryant Bulldogs from 2007 until his retirement after the 2022 season.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2022-06-03 |title=Mike Pressler announces retirement after 16 years at Bryant |url=https://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mlax/2021-22/releases/20220603pc00ho |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Press">{{cite journal|title=Mike Pressler Named Men's Lacrosse Coach at Bryant University|journal=Bulldogs News|date=6 August 2006 |url=http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/news/2006-07/2006August6Pressler|accessdate=February 3, 2010}}</ref> He served as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils for 16 seasons until he was forced to resign during the Duke lacrosse case in 2006. He received the F. Morris Touchstone Award for the men's college lacrosse coach of the year in 2005. In 2010, he coached the United States men's national lacrosse team to a gold medal.<ref name=bryant /><ref>{{cite web|title=Pressler Named Head Coach of 2010 U.S. Men's Lacrosse Team|work=US Lacrosse|url=http://www.uslacrosse.org/news/2008/pressler.phtml|accessdate=February 1, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628151301/http://www.uslacrosse.org/news/2008/pressler.phtml|archivedate=June 28, 2009}}</ref>
==Career==
Pressler attended Wilton High School, then Washington & Lee University, graduating in 1982. He was an outstanding lacrosse and football player, a four-year starter in both sports.
Pressler was the head coach at Virginia Military Institute for one year before leaving to serve as an assistant coach at the United States Military Academy under the tutelage of his former coach, Jack Emmer.
After West Point, Pressler was the head coach at Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU). In October 2007, he 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 championships, five visits to the NCAA Division III semi-finals, three NCAA Division III Championship game appearances, 29 All-American selections, and five NCAA Division III players of the year. His contributions to the OWU lacrosse program made him the winningest coach (.812) in OWU's over 50-year lacrosse history.
Pressler was hired by Bryant University to lead their lacrosse team in 2007. In June 2022, Pressler announced his retirement from coaching.
After his retirement, Pressler was announced as the head coach for Highland Park High School's lacrosse program. In his first season at the helm, he led the Scots to a Texas High School Lacrosse League Class AA state championship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dallas Morning News| date=2023-05-14 |title= Highland Park Rallies for 12th State Championship| url = https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/other-sports/2023/05/14/thsll-boys-state-championship-highland-park-rallies-in-second-half-for-comeback-win/}}</ref>
===Duke=== Pressler became coach of the Duke Blue Devils 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 Division I tournament appearances as well as the 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.<ref name="Press" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=94428 |title=2005 USILA Awards |accessdate=2008-05-13 |work=InsideLacrosse.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212916/http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=94428 |archivedate=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>
{{wikinews|Duke lacrosse season ends, coach resigns}}
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 was publicly portrayed by Duke as a resignation, which gave rise to the implication that the coach resigned due to the students' presumed guilt.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}} Pressler believed the players were innocent and had argued that the lacrosse season should not be canceled until the DNA test results were returned.<ref>{{citation|author=Bill Stump|title=Convicted without trial|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8gDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA118|page=118,120|work=Men's Health|date=March 2008}}</ref> Pressler has written (with co-author 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''.
Pressler demanded compensation from Duke for wrongful termination. In early June 2007, Pressler and Duke agreed upon a financial settlement for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/crime_safety/duke_lacrosse/story/596200.html/ | title= Duke, ex-coach settle up | date=2007-06-08 | accessdate=2007-06-12 | publisher=Raleigh News and Observer }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref name="Globe">{{cite news |author1=Beard, Aaron |title=Duke, Pressler settle |url=https://archive.boston.com/sports/articles/2007/06/08/duke_pressler_settle/ |work=The Boston Globe |publisher=Associated Press |date=June 8, 2007}}</ref> Then 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2007Oct12/0,4675,DukeLacrosse,00.html |title=Former Duke Lacrosse Coach Sues School - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News |website=FOXNews.com |date=2007-10-12 |accessdate=2016-03-07}}</ref>
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 proceed with his suit, including discovery.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Connor |first=Ian |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=4438140 |title=Ex-Duke lacrosse coach Mike Pressler wins argument in North Carolina Court of Appeals |website=ESPN |date=2009-09-01 |access-date=2016-03-07}}</ref> On March 31, 2010, the final day before discovery would start, Duke settled with Pressler. Although terms of the settlement were not disclosed, Duke issued an apology.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2010/03/29/daily37.html |title=Duke settles lawsuit by former lacrosse coach Pressler |website=Triangle.bizjournals.com |accessdate=2016-03-07}}</ref>
==Head coaching record== {{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason= | poll = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead | name = VMI Keydets | conference = Independent | startyear = 1983 | endyear = 1983 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | season = 1983 | name = VMI | overall = 7–4 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal | name = VMI | overall = 7–4 ({{Winning percentage|7|4}}) | confrecord = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops | conference = NCAC | startyear = 1986 | endyear = 1990 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1986 | name = Ohio Wesleyan | overall = 12–4 | conference = 3–1 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = NCAA D3 Semifinals }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | season = 1987 | name = Ohio Wesleyan | overall = 14–3 | conference = 4–0 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = NCAA D3 Runner-up }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | season = 1988 | name = Ohio Wesleyan | overall = 15–2 | conference = 4–0 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = NCAA D3 Runner-up }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | season = 1989 | name = Ohio Wesleyan | overall = 13–4 | conference = 4–0 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = NCAA D3 Runner-up }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | season = 1990 | name = Ohio Wesleyan | overall = 15–3 | conference = 5–0 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = NCAA D3 Semifinals }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal | name = Ohio Wesleyan | overall = 69–16 ({{Winning percentage|69|16}}) | confrecord = 20–1 ({{Winning percentage|20|1}}) }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Duke Blue Devils | conference = Atlantic Coast Conference | startyear = 1991 | endyear = 2006 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1991 | name = Duke | overall = 7–5 | conference = 0–3 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1992 | name = Duke | overall = 7–7 | conference = 1–2 | confstanding = 3rd | postseason = NCAA First Round }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1993 | name = Duke | overall = 9–5 | conference = 1–2 | confstanding = 3rd | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1994 | name = Duke | overall = 10–6 | conference = 1–2 | confstanding = T-3rd | postseason = NCAA Quarterfinals }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 1995 | name = Duke | overall = 12–4 | conference = 0–3 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = NCAA First Round }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1996 | name = Duke | overall = 6–6 | conference = 1–2 | confstanding = T-3rd | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1997 | name = Duke | overall = 12–4 | conference = 2–1 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = NCAA Semifinals }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1998 | name = Duke | overall = 11–4 | conference = 1–2 | confstanding = 3rd | postseason = NCAA Quarterfinals }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | season = 1999 | name = Duke | overall = 13–3 | conference = 2–1 | confstanding = T-1st | postseason = NCAA First Round }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2000 | name = Duke | overall = 11–5 | conference = 2–1 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = NCAA Quarterfinals }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = confboth | season = 2001 | name = Duke | overall = 11–6 | conference = 2–1 | confstanding = T-1st | postseason = NCAA First Round }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 2002 | name = Duke | overall = 8–7 | conference = 1–2 | confstanding = T-3rd | postseason = NCAA Quarterfinals }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2003 | name = Duke | overall = 8–7 | conference = 0–3 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2004 | name = Duke | overall = 5–8 | conference = 0–3 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | season = 2005 | name = Duke | overall = 17–3 | conference = 3–0 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = NCAA Runner-up }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2006 | name = Duke | overall = 6–2 | conference = 1–1 | confstanding = 3rd | postseason = Season canceled after 8 games. }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal | name = Duke | overall = 153–82 ({{Winning percentage|153|82}}) | confrecord = 18–29 ({{Winning percentage|18|29}}) }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Bryant Bulldogs | conference = Northeast-10 | startyear = 2007 | endyear = 2008 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | season = 2007 | name = Bryant | overall = 11–4 | conference = 9–0 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 2008 | name = Bryant | overall = 14–4 | conference = 9–1 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = NCAA D2 Semifinals }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Bryant Bulldogs | conference = Independent | startyear = 2009 | endyear = 2010 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2009 | name = Bryant | overall = 10–5 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2010 | name = Bryant | overall = 12–5 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Bryant Bulldogs | conference = Northeast | startyear = 2011 | endyear = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2011 | name = Bryant | overall = 8–9 | conference = 3–2 | confstanding = T-3rd | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 2012 | name = Bryant | overall = 14–4 | conference = 4–1 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = confboth | season = 2013 | name = Bryant | overall = 8–11 | conference = 4–1 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = NCAA First Round }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 2014 | name = Bryant | overall = 16–5 | conference = 5–1 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = NCAA Quarterfinals }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 2015 | name = Bryant | overall = 8–10 | conference = 4–2 | confstanding = T-2nd | postseason = NCAA Play-in }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | season = 2016 | name = Bryant | overall = 10-5 | conference = 5-1 | confstanding = T-1st | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 2017 | name = Bryant | overall = 11-8 | conference = 4-2 | confstanding = T-2nd | postseason = NCAA First Round }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2018 | name = Bryant | overall = 8-7 | conference = 5-1 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2019 | name = Bryant | overall = 3-11 | conference = 1-5 | confstanding = 6th | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2020 | name = Bryant | overall = 3-4 | conference = 0-0 | confstanding = T-1st | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 2021 | name = Bryant | overall = 9-4 | conference = 5-2 | confstanding = 3rd | postseason = NCAA First Round }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal | name = Bryant | overall = 148–96 ({{Winning percentage|148|96}}) | confrecord = 58–19 ({{Winning percentage|58|19}}) }} {{CBB Yearly Record End | overall = 377–198 ({{Winning percentage|377|198}}) }}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pressler, Mike}} Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:Army Black Knights men's lacrosse coaches Category:Bryant Bulldogs men's lacrosse coaches Category:Duke Blue Devils men's lacrosse coaches Category:VMI Keydets men's lacrosse coaches Category:Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops men's lacrosse coaches Category:Washington and Lee Generals football players Category:Sportspeople from Fairfield County, Connecticut Category:People from Wilton, Connecticut Category:American male writers Category:Wilton High School alumni