LORETTO, Pa. (Mar. 23, 2007) – Saint Francis Director of Athletics Bob Krimmel announced on Monday afternoon that the University has promoted assistant coach/interim head coach Michael Casper to be the sixth head men’s soccer coach in program history.

Casper spent the previous four seasons as an assistant under former head coach B.J. Craig, who resigned on Feb. 13 to take a position at the University of Louisville. Casper has been serving as the team’s interim head coach since Craig’s departure.

“I am very pleased to have Michael Casper remain with us at Saint Francis University,” Krimmel said. “We had an outstanding pool of candidates interview for this position, and Michael stood out as the person we want to continue the growth of the Red Flash men’s soccer program. He is a person who understands our mission as a University and an athletic program. His growth as an assistant coach during the past four seasons under B.J. Craig has made him a valuable member of the Saint Francis community. We look forward to working with him as we continue to build our program.”

Casper came on board with Craig prior to the 2003 season. Together they took a team that compiled a 4-12-2 record that year to clinching the school’s first-ever appearance in the Northeast Conference Tournament the following season. During the 2004 season, Casper played a pivotal role in leading the Red Flash to a school-record 10 wins, which was matched this past season when the squad reached the NEC championship match for the first time in program history, falling just one match shy of the school’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

“I want to thank Bob Krimmel and everyone that was involved in the search for a new men’s soccer coach at Saint Francis University,” Casper said. “Over the past four years, Saint Francis has become home to me. I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to continue working with the players, and to remain with the friends and community that have made Saint Francis such a special place for me. Under B.J.’s leadership, I feel that we have built a strong foundation for the future, and I look forward to the challenge of taking this program to the next level.”

A four-year member of the UMBC men’s soccer team, Casper helped lead the Retrievers to a Northeast Conference championship in 1999. During Casper’s four-year career at UMBC, the Retrievers posted a composite record of 54-19-11 (30-7-3 NEC).

Following his collegiate career, Casper served as head junior varsity and assistant coach at Timothy Christian High School (NJ) for two seasons (2001-02). In 2000, Casper served as head coach of the Central Jersey Riptide in the Professional Development League. He holds a B License from the United States Soccer Federation.

Casper received his master’s degree in education from Saint Francis in 2005, and is a 2000 graduate of UMBC with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.