University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men's Soccer
LaCasto, Joe
Joe LaCasto
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
- jlacasto@unca.edu
- Phone:
- 258-7719
The UNC Asheville Men's soccer team and Head Coach Mick Giordano announced the hiring of former Bulldog Joe LaCasto as Assistant Coach on February 11, 2022.Â
The 2024 Bulldogs posted a record of 7-4-4 on the year, qualifying for the Big South Conference Championships in back-to-back years for the first time in the Division I era. Asheville tied a program record allowing only 15 goals on the season, while also setting a Division I era program record with six shutouts on the season. LaCasto saw Charlie Farrar earn Big South Conference Goalkeeper of the Year honors for the second straight season along with being named to the All-Conference First Team, while Brendan Herb, Edvin Grolimund, Myles Edmondson and Benian Yao were all named to the All-Conference Second Team and Heath Flathau was named to the All-Academic Team. Flathau, Herb, Edmondson, Yao, Grolimund and Seth Hammond were all named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections. Farrar also became the first Big South Conference men's soccer player to earn four Player of the Week honors in a single season along with being the first player in conference history to earn five consecutive Player of the Week honors.Â
LaCasto helped the Bulldogs to one of the best seasons in program history in 2023. Asheville won 10 matches for the first time in its Division I era, posted a program record seven All-Conference selections and also appeared in the Big South Conference Championship match for the first time in program history. In addition to the weekly and conference accolades, Charlie Farrar was the first-ever Bulldog to be named Big South Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. Asheville notched four First Team All-Conference selections, which tied a program record. LaCasto also coached four College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections and one First Team Academic All-America selection. For the ninth straight season, UNC Asheville would go on to earn the Team Academic Award from United Soccer Coaches.Â
Most recently, LaCasto was an assistant coach for the men's soccer team at Mars Hill University while also attaining his Master of Management degree. Over the past two years, he helped Mars Hill University go from last in their conference to playing in the SAC Conference final this past fall. In the 2 seasons that LaCasto coached at Mars Hill University they compiled an overall record of 14-9-5.
"I am extremely excited and happy to be able to have Joe rejoin us at UNC Asheville," Giordano said. "He has spent the last two years doing amazing work at Mars Hill University helping rebuild and elevate their program to a power in a tough Division II conference. Joe has also worked for one of the best coaches in our region, Gregg Munn, which has us excited for him to bring those experiences back to his alma mater."
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A native of Huntington Beach, California, LaCasto competed for the Bulldogs from 2015-19, garnering Big South All-Academic status twice as one of the team's top midfielders. In his first two seasons as a Bulldog, LaCasto played 38 games and scored one goal, burying two in his junior season as he was named to the Big South All-Academic team. As a senior, LaCasto started all 17 games, scoring a goal and dishing out two assists, garnering All-Academic status once more. LaCasto was also a 3-year captain for the Bulldogs and was named UNCA Men's Soccer Player of the Year in both 2017 and 2018.
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"Personally, I feel lucky to have a close friend and an unbelievable human come into the program again," said Giordano. "Joe brings energy, enthusiasm and a wonderful football background. To add a coach that has directly been involved in the program as a three-year captain and two-time (Bulldog) Player of the Year will bring immeasurable value to our group. The players will be able look directly to Joe for a positive influence as well as guidance. He is a young coach that will improve us immediately in all facets of our program. UNC Asheville Men's Soccer has certainly gotten better with the addition of Joe to our staff."
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"I am very excited to be back at UNC Asheville and to be working with Coach Giordano again," LaCasto said. "Coach Giordano was influential in helping me start my coaching career and I am grateful to be working on his staff. I have learned a lot from my time at Mars Hill and hope my experiences can positively help the UNC Asheville men's soccer program. I look forward to being a part of the program and cannot wait to fully get going!"
LaCasto rejoined the Bulldog family at the beginning of the semester.
The 2024 Bulldogs posted a record of 7-4-4 on the year, qualifying for the Big South Conference Championships in back-to-back years for the first time in the Division I era. Asheville tied a program record allowing only 15 goals on the season, while also setting a Division I era program record with six shutouts on the season. LaCasto saw Charlie Farrar earn Big South Conference Goalkeeper of the Year honors for the second straight season along with being named to the All-Conference First Team, while Brendan Herb, Edvin Grolimund, Myles Edmondson and Benian Yao were all named to the All-Conference Second Team and Heath Flathau was named to the All-Academic Team. Flathau, Herb, Edmondson, Yao, Grolimund and Seth Hammond were all named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections. Farrar also became the first Big South Conference men's soccer player to earn four Player of the Week honors in a single season along with being the first player in conference history to earn five consecutive Player of the Week honors.Â
LaCasto helped the Bulldogs to one of the best seasons in program history in 2023. Asheville won 10 matches for the first time in its Division I era, posted a program record seven All-Conference selections and also appeared in the Big South Conference Championship match for the first time in program history. In addition to the weekly and conference accolades, Charlie Farrar was the first-ever Bulldog to be named Big South Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. Asheville notched four First Team All-Conference selections, which tied a program record. LaCasto also coached four College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections and one First Team Academic All-America selection. For the ninth straight season, UNC Asheville would go on to earn the Team Academic Award from United Soccer Coaches.Â
Most recently, LaCasto was an assistant coach for the men's soccer team at Mars Hill University while also attaining his Master of Management degree. Over the past two years, he helped Mars Hill University go from last in their conference to playing in the SAC Conference final this past fall. In the 2 seasons that LaCasto coached at Mars Hill University they compiled an overall record of 14-9-5.
"I am extremely excited and happy to be able to have Joe rejoin us at UNC Asheville," Giordano said. "He has spent the last two years doing amazing work at Mars Hill University helping rebuild and elevate their program to a power in a tough Division II conference. Joe has also worked for one of the best coaches in our region, Gregg Munn, which has us excited for him to bring those experiences back to his alma mater."
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A native of Huntington Beach, California, LaCasto competed for the Bulldogs from 2015-19, garnering Big South All-Academic status twice as one of the team's top midfielders. In his first two seasons as a Bulldog, LaCasto played 38 games and scored one goal, burying two in his junior season as he was named to the Big South All-Academic team. As a senior, LaCasto started all 17 games, scoring a goal and dishing out two assists, garnering All-Academic status once more. LaCasto was also a 3-year captain for the Bulldogs and was named UNCA Men's Soccer Player of the Year in both 2017 and 2018.
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"Personally, I feel lucky to have a close friend and an unbelievable human come into the program again," said Giordano. "Joe brings energy, enthusiasm and a wonderful football background. To add a coach that has directly been involved in the program as a three-year captain and two-time (Bulldog) Player of the Year will bring immeasurable value to our group. The players will be able look directly to Joe for a positive influence as well as guidance. He is a young coach that will improve us immediately in all facets of our program. UNC Asheville Men's Soccer has certainly gotten better with the addition of Joe to our staff."
Â
"I am very excited to be back at UNC Asheville and to be working with Coach Giordano again," LaCasto said. "Coach Giordano was influential in helping me start my coaching career and I am grateful to be working on his staff. I have learned a lot from my time at Mars Hill and hope my experiences can positively help the UNC Asheville men's soccer program. I look forward to being a part of the program and cannot wait to fully get going!"
LaCasto rejoined the Bulldog family at the beginning of the semester.
Highlights || Men's Soccer || #2 UNC Asheville at #1 High Point (Big South Championship)
Monday, November 13
Highlights || Men's Soccer || #2 UNC Asheville vs #3 Winthrop (Big South Championship Semifinal)
Monday, November 06
Highlights || Men's Soccer || UNC Asheville vs USC Upstate
Monday, November 06
Highlights || Men's Soccer || UNC Asheville at Winthrop
Monday, October 30
