David Casper Named Head Coach at ESTU

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Following a successful six-year stint as an assistant coach for UK head coach Johan Cedergren, David Casper has been named head coach at East Tennessee State University.

“I want to thank Head Coach Johan Cedergren, Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart, and Executive Associate Athletic Director Kevin Saal for an amazing six years at Kentucky,” Casper said. “Without their guidance and leadership I wouldn’t be here today. I will miss my time in Lexington and the people there, but I am very excited to start a new chapter in my life and to lead this Bucs program for years to come.”           

Casper was a key factor in elevating Kentucky into one of the top defensive units in the nation, with the stats from the past five seasons to back it up. Kentucky has finished inside the top-20 in the nation in goals against average in four of Casper’s six years on UK head coach Cedergren’s staff.

In 2016, Casper coached Callum Irving to arguably the best four-year career in school history. With Casper as his goalkeeper coach Irving set the program’s all-time records in shutouts (27) and goals-against average (minimum 2,500 minutes – 0.86). He was an NCAA All-American and Scholar All-American in 2014 and 2015 as a senior. He was also a two-time Conference USA Player of the Year, Defensive MVP and Golden Glove award winner. In 2016, having to replace the best goalkeeper in the nation, Stuart Ford was an All-Southeast Region selection.

In 2017, he guided freshman net minder Enrique Facusse to the Conference USA Golden Glove Award, Freshman of the Year, First Team All-C-USA and the Conference All-Freshman Team and All-Southeast Region.

In 2012, Casper, who was the responsible for the goalkeepers on the Kentucky roster, helped lead the UK goalies to the 11th best goals against average (1.21) as well as a tie for the 10th-most shutouts (six) in school annals.