Men's Lacrosse Coming Back to Duke

June 2, 2006 — -- The Duke University men's lacrosse program, which was suspended from play following accusations of rape against three of the team members, will be reinstated next week, ESPN's George Smith reported.

A news conference to announce the decision is expected Monday, ESPN reported.

Former three-time Duke All-American Kevin Cassese, 25, who served as an assistant Blue Devils coach last season, will be named to run the program pending a national search for a head coach, according to a report in Newsday.

Duke University President Richard Brodhead announced on March 28 that the university was suspending future games of the men's lacrosse team until there was a clearer resolution of the legal situation involving team members.

On May 1, a Duke University committee recommended that the lacrosse program be reinstated.

Three Duke lacrosse players -- Reade Seligmann, 20, Collin Finnerty, 19, and co-captain David Evans, 23, -- have been charged with raping a woman hired to dance at a March 13 team party. Coach Mike Pressler resigned shortly after the accusations were first made, ending a 16-year tenure marked by three Atlantic Coast Conference championships and a trip to the 2005 national final.