AE-related tidbits in newspaper article -- America East Forum

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Date Posted: 07:19:46 04/14/03 Mon
Author: BUfan2
Subject: AE-related tidbits in newspaper article

Several AE-related tidbits in this article from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette (mentions Stony Brook assistant coach Brian Blaney, ex-Albany coach Scott Beeton, and BU recruit Gerry Corcoran) at end of article.

April 14. 2003 12:00AM
Cassara leaving WA for Dayton

Jeff Goodman
CORRESPONDENT

WORCESTER- Worcester Academy basketball coach Mo Cassara, fresh off the team's first NEPSAC Class A title in 16 years, has resigned to become an assistant coach at the University of Dayton.

Cassara, 29, took over the program four years ago and wasted little time in returning the Hilltoppers to national prominence. Worcester Academy won 25 games in his rookie campaign and put up a school-record 27 games two years ago before losing in the championship game to New Hampton Prep.

The Hilltoppers were the fifth-seed in this year's tournament after going 22-4 in the regular-season. Cassara's club knocked off St. Thomas More, Bridgton Academy and defeated Winchendon, 91-84, last month to win the title.

Worcester Academy, which hadn't been to the title game since 1987, advanced to the championship game in three of Cassara's four seasons.

"I came into a program rich in tradition and history,' Cassara said. "One in which I followed two legends in Dee Rowe and Tom Blackburn. Those guys stood for everything that's right in prep school basketball.'

"I've had several opportunities to leave and go back into college coaching,' Cassara added. "But Dayton is just a wonderful opportunity. It's a chance to work for Brian Gregory, one of the top assistants in the business, and a chance to work at a Top 25-caliber school with such basketball tradition.'

Cassara will become the No. 2 assistant coach at Dayton under Gregory, a former Michigan State University assistant who was hired on Wednesday. Dayton is coming off a season in which it went 24-6 and won both the regular-season title and the Atlantic 10 tournament. The Flyers finished 16th in the Associated Press poll, 25th in the ESPN/USA Today poll and return four starters next season.

"The energy level I've seen in Mo, not only as a coach but also in the recruiting aspect of his job, really excites me,' Gregory said. "He definitely has a passion for the game and that encompasses everything. It really impresses me the passion he has in forging relationships with young players.'

Cassara played one season as a post-grad at Worcester Academy (1992-93) and attended St. Lawrence University before becoming an assistant coach at the Citadel. He took over at Worcester Academy at just 25 years old and built the program back to a powerhouse immediately.

The Hilltoppers finished 89-20 in the four years Cassara was at the helm and also sent 20 players to Division 1 in his tenure, including 16 in the last two seasons.

"That's one of the great things about this job,' Cassara said. "I coached so many great players and I was able to meet so many wonderful people while I was here.'

In fact, Cassara and Gregory forged a relationship while Michigan State was recruiting former Worcester Academy point guard Jarrett Jack, who opted to attend Georgia Tech over the Spartans. Gregory also played his college basketball at Navy for coach Paul Evans, who is Cassara's godfather.

"I don't think any other independent school program in the country enjoyed the level of success that Mo's Worcester Academy program did in the last four years,' Worcester Academy headmaster Dexter Morse said. "It's tough to lose Mo, but we understood when he came here that this was not a long-term situation and that his career goal was to be a college basketball coach.'

"He's a class act and a real gentleman and he brought really good kids to the program,' added Morse. "It's going to be a big loss, but we sort of expected it.'

Morse has already begun the process of finding a new football coach and athletic director after Patrick Smith left for a position at Holy Cross. Morse will interview eight candidates for the AD position over the next two weeks.

"I'm confident we can replace Mo with the type of basketball coach that can keep the tradition here strong,' Morse said. "There are a couple of basketball coaches among these eight candidates and once people hear that Mo's leaving, there'll probably be a lot more.'

A few of those who are expected to be considered for the basketball vacancy are former Worcester Academy player Eric Eaton, now as assistant under Ralph Willard at Holy Cross; fellow Crusaders assistant Mark Giovino; Stony Brook assistant coach Brian Blaney, whose father is former Holy Cross coach and current UConn assistant George Blaney; and former Albany head coach Scott Beeton.

Worcester Academy will lose its top six players from this year, but Cassara already has a pair of local standouts - Norwell High swingman Gerry Corcoran and North High guard Leroy Byron - who have committed to come next season.

"I can't thank the people at Worcester Academy enough - the administration, the alumni and fans - for the opportunity to come and be a part of the greatest prep school,' Cassara said. "It's been an unbelievable fit and it's my school and my home. Even though I'm leaving Worcester, I'll never really leave Worcester Academy.'

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