LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV men's soccer head coach BJ Craig announced on Thursday the promotion of Dave Casper to associate head coach.

"We're very fortunate to have Dave Casper on our staff and this promotion is well deserved," said Craig. "Dave is a great teacher and role model for our team and he's passionate about player and personal development. He has been a head coach before and does everything with professionalism, a love for the game, and he cares deeply about our student-athletes."

Casper is coming off his fourth year on the Rebel coaching staff after joining the program in 2022.

"I want to thank BJ for this honor and title. I'm very excited to continue to work to build this program up to what we know it can be," said Casper.

The veteran coach has developed the UNLV backline into one of the top defensive units in its conference on a consistent basis. This past season, the Scarlet & Gray tied for first in the WAC in shutouts (2) during conference play and landed a top-3 league ranking in overall shutouts (5). In 2024, the Rebels led the WAC in total clean sheets (8), while tying for second in goals allowed (6) and goals against average (0.67) in league matches. The 2023 season saw the squad end the year ranked fourth in goals allowed (25) and goals against average (1.29).

Prior to UNLV, Casper served as head coach for four seasons at East Tennessee State in Johnson City, Tennessee. Under his guidance, the Bucs recorded the program's best two-year record in his first two seasons in the role and instantly raised the bar for academic achievement as his first squad broke a 10-year record for team GPA. Additionally, 13 Bucs earned all-conference honors, five were named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team and Josh Perryman was named SoCon Goalkeeper of the Year.

Casper tested his ETSU squad against the best, facing national powers on a regular basis by scheduling nine top-25 opponents across his three seasons not interrupted by COVID-19. His 2018 team, which finished 9-7-1 and second in the Southern Conference (SoCon), had the second-highest non-conference strength of schedule in all of Division I men's soccer.

Prior to ETSU, Casper elevated Kentucky into one of the nation's top defensive units. The Wildcats finished among the top 20 in goals-against average in four of Casper's five years as an assistant. Casper coached goalkeeper Callum Irving, who set program records for shutouts (27) and goals-against average (0.86) becoming an NSCAA Scholar All-America, two-time All-American, Conference USA Player of the Year, Defensive MVP and Golden Glove winner. 

Casper helped lead St. Francis (Pa.) to the program's first back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2010 and 2011. While working with the goalkeepers, St. Francis set the school record for shutouts in a season (11), ranked third in the NCAA in shutout percentage (0.61), sixth in save percentage (.864) and 11th in goals-against average (0.65).

Casper also made stops at William Paterson (Wayne, N.J.) that, in 2008, won its first postseason championship since 1975, Timothy Christian High School in Piscataway, N.J., and Somerset Christian Academy in Zarepath, N.J. He has additional experience as a trainer for the N.Y. Red Bulls Regional Development School (2006-08), where he worked with U-14 field players and goalkeepers. In 2008, he was the trainer for Competitive Goalkeeping in Bridgewater, N.J., training a variety of different ages and levels of keepers.

Casper had a standout playing career as a goalkeeper at Wheaton College (Ill.) and Messiah College (Pa.). While at Wheaton, he had a 0.63 goals-against average in 2001, with five shutouts. After transferring to Messiah College, he served as the starter on the 2002 Division III National Champions, totaling a 0.40 goals-against average and a school-record 16.5 shutouts. In 2006-07, he served as the starting keeper for William Paterson, posting eight shutouts. Following his collegiate career, Casper had a trial with Independiente de Medellin, in the Colombia First Division. 

Casper earned his bachelor's in physical education from William Paterson and received his master's in education from St. Francis University.