LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Mike Cassity knows the rousing cheers of being recognized as an assistant coach who made a difference, a guy who applauded for upgrading an ordinary defense into a group that won an Orange Bowl.
Mike Cassity has also heard the howls of fans who were convinced he did not have a clue, a guy who couldn't get his players lined up properly, never mind make a game-changing defensive play.
Cassity experienced both situations at the University of Louisville.
First, in 2004, he was the guy who fixed the Cardinals' defense. Considering Cassity's ability to recruit, there was talk he'd be getting his head-coaching opportunity. Bobby Petrino was Mr. Offense. Mike Cassity was Mr. Defense.
Then, in 2007, Cassity was the guy who had to go at U of L so the defense could be fixed. Mike Cassity was Scapegoat No. 1 of the Steve Kragthorpe Era.
"I've known the feeling of being one of the hot names in coaching and the feeling of not being able to find a job," Cassity said. "It's a strange business."
Cassity has a job. He's back in his home state. He's working for Joker Phillips at the University of Kentucky, where he is one of three former U of L assistants who will coach the Wildcats in their season opener against the Cards Sept. 2.
Cassity works with the UK defensive backs. The other two former U of L assistants are offensive line coach Mike Summers and Greg Nord, who handles special teams and tight ends. He returned because of his connection to UK and his relationships with Phillips and defensive coordinator Rick Minter.
You want to coach college football?
Pack your bags and follow along on Cassity's coaching odyssey. You'll need a real estate license. You might want to bring a snack. It's going to take awhile.
He started as a student coach at UK, in 1975, 37 years ago. Then it was off to Paducah Tilghman High School, back to Kentucky, over to Morehead State, down to Western Kentucky, off to Northeast Louisiana, across the country to East Carolina, south to Georgia Tech, back near home at Cincinnati, north to Wisconsin, down to Baylor, over to Oklahoma State, back to the Big Ten with Illinois, four mostly formidable seasons at U of L, a short stop at Fern Creek High School where Cassity says he was "the nation's highest-paid high school coach," another college opportunity at Marshall and now his chance to improve the pass defense at Kentucky.
Got all that?
"If you're in this game very long, you just accept that is the nature of the beast," Cassity said.
The nature of the beast for this season is that Phillips and Minter need Cassity to improve the ball-hawking and coverage skills of the Kentucky secondary. Kentucky needs to improve on its total of 15 interceptions. Cassity said the goal is always the same. Make the quarterback hold the ball an extra half-second. Create indecision.
He's done it before. In Cassity's first season at U of L, the Cards' total defense ranking jumped from 93rd to 15. In year two, the Cards remained 23rd in total defense, limiting six opponents to 20 points or less.
Year three was the Orange Bowl season. It was all love, love, love for Cassity then, too. U of L limited Miami to seven points. Kansas State scored six. South Florida managed only eight. Wake Forest scrambled to score 13 as the Cards won the Rose Bowl.
"We had a lot of good players," Cassity said.
The cheering stopped in 2007. It was replaced by boos. Louisville gave up more than 31 points per game, nearly double the average of the Orange Bowl season. Somebody had to be responsible. Somebody was Mike Cassity. He was let go after the season.
What happened?
"If you stay in this game long enough, you'll see about everything," Cassity said.
What Cassity sees today is a Kentucky secondary with the talent to make more plays. The safeties, Martavius Neloms and Mikie Benton, are experienced. The cornerbacks are not. The move by redshirt freshman Marcus Caffey from running back to cornerback will be the most interesting position shift to follow during fall camp. That's the way Mike Cassity likes it.
"I really like the feeling around this coaching staff," Cassity said. "I've been a part of staffs where everybody was trying to find the next job. Joker has put together a group of guys who want to be here."
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Mike Cassity, the former U of L defensive coordinator, now coaches the defensive backs at Kentucky.
