New UVA Coach Cassese Makes Splash, Hires Feifs as Top Assistant

Kevin Cassese has made his first big move as the head coach at Virginia, hiring Vermont head coach Chris Feifs as his defensive coordinator and top assistant. Inside Lacrosse first reported the news Wednesday, after which Vermont issued a formal announcement.

Feifs has previous experience in the ACC, having served as North Carolina’s defensive coordinator under Joe Breschi when the Tar Heels won the national championship in 2016. He left after that season to become the head coach at Vermont, where in 10 seasons he led the Catamounts to a 78-59 record and America East championships in 2021 and 2022.

“Chris poured his heart and soul into the program,” athletic director Jeff Schulman said.

Feifs was named the America East Coach of the Year in 2023 after leading Vermont to a regular season conference title.

“I will look back at the past 10 years as the single greatest growth period of my life,” he said.

Now he’ll play a key role in remodeling Virginia’s defense in his likeness. The Cavaliers ranked 39th in Division I last season allowing 11.12 goals per game. They do boast one of the best close defensemen in the country in John Schroter, who will be a redshirt senior next season. The goalie position is uncertain after Virginia turned to Air Force transfer Jake Marek as the starter this year and Kyle Morris entered the transfer portal.

Virginia has moved swiftly since making the surprise decision to part ways with Lars Tiffany on May 18 and issuing a terse press release announcing the departure of a head coach who led the Cavaliers to national championships in 2019 and 2021 and the ACC championship this year. Eight days later, they elevated Cassese — an offensive coordinator with extensive previous head coaching experience at Lehigh — to head coach.

Eight days after that, Cassese has his top lieutenant.