New Hofstra men's basketball head coach Mo Cassara in full court press mode this summer

 Courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications

The summer of 2010 has been far from a relaxing one for new Hofstra men’s basketball head coach Mo Cassara who spent a 25 day stretch in July and early August attending camps and AAU tournaments in Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Augusta, Ga., Miami, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix and New York City. Cassara has returned to Long Island from his aggressive recruiting journey around the country and continues to focus on the future of the Pride program while gearing up for the 2010/2011 season.

“It was a busy, busy month for our whole staff,” said Cassara, a St. Lawrence University graduate who arrived at Hofstra after serving as an assistant coach at Boston College for the past four seasons. “We’re getting our feet on the ground.”

In addition to looking at talent for the 2011/2012 season Cassara’s staff has also been eyeing possible transfers that could fill in for departing Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie team selections Chaz Williams and Halil Kanacevic. “We have been keeping our eyes open and looking for some potential kids that might be available for the fall but as of this point we haven’t found someone that met either qualifications that we have or that our staff has or that the NCAA has,” said Cassara. “We’ve been always looking and keeping our ears and eyes open but we haven’t found anyone yet.”

In addition to losing both Williams and Kanacevic Cassara was faced with another challenge when senior guard Nathaniel Lester tore a muscle in his quad while doing some off-season running on his own, which will take him off the court for several months. Cassara said surgery has been ruled out and Lester will have another MRI in three weeks where it will be determined when he can return to the court.

In the midst of all of Cassara’s travels since taking over as Hofstra head coach on May 5 he has managed to try and get settled on Long Island by moving into a house in Point Lookout. Cassara was able to find a home in the seaside community with help from Hofstra women’s basketball head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey, who has also lived in Point Lookout and recently moved just west on the Long Beach Barrier Island to Lido Beach. “She was very, very helpful in pushing me down there,” said Cassara of Kilburn-Steveskey. “She was very helpful in pointing me in the right direction.”

With the hectic summer schedule Cassara has been slow to get situated in his new home as evidenced by an early August barbeque he hosted with his players where a television was not set up yet. Cassara has since bought a television and couch for his new home and hopes to start to settle in this month, but the preparation for the coming season and beyond will still be in full court press mode.

“Right now the most important thing is doing as much as we can with our players and our program and our fans and being out in the community as much as possible,” said Cassara. “I’ll be settled next spring when the season is over.”