With 38 seasons of coaching experience, including 22 as a defensive coordinator, Mike Cassity returns to the Hill to join head coach Bobby Petrino’s staff at WKU. Cassity returns to Bowling Green after serving as the defensive coordinator and the defensive backs coach from 1983-88 at WKU. Cassity joins former Kentucky assistant Mike Summers on the Hilltopper coaching staff, after the two spent the 2012 season together with the Wildcats.

Cassity began his coaching career at UK as a student coach in 1975 while completing his degree. He was a part-time assistant coach in 1979, working with the defensive backs, and was a full-time assistant as the DBs coach in 1980-81. 

From there, the trail wound through Morehead State, WKU, Northeast Louisiana, East Carolina, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Wisconsin, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Illinois, Louisville and Marshall.

Cassity was the defensive coordinator during his term at Louisville. Inheriting a unit that was 93rd in the nation in total defense and 72nd in scoring defense in 2003, the team improved to 15th in total defense and 24th in scoring defense in Cassity's first season in 2004. His teams finished in the top 40 nationally in total defense from 2004-06. 

Cassity helped the Cardinals win the 2004 Conference USA championship and the 2006 Big East title and advance to three bowl games, highlighted by a victory in the 2007 Orange Bowl. In the Orange Bowl campaign, Louisville finished second in the nation in quarterback sacks and 17th nationally in scoring defense.

Cassity was named the 2007 Big East Recruiter of the Year by SI.com/Rivals.com and was chosen one of the nation's top-25 recruiters by Rivals.com in 2005.

Cassity also was defensive coordinator at Illinois, the 2001 Big Ten champion and participant in the 2002 Sugar Bowl, and at Baylor, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, East Carolina, Northeast Louisiana and WKU. 

During the 1991 season at East Carolina, the Pirates posted an 11-1 record, capped by a victory in the Peach Bowl. The ECU coaches were selected as the National Coaching Staff of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.

Cassity comes to WKU after recent coaching stops at Kentucky and Marshall University, where he coached the defensive backs in the 2009-11 seasons. He helped Marshall win a pair of bowl games following the '09 and '11 seasons. 

All totaled, 10 of Cassity's collegiate teams have advanced to postseason play. His teams have a 6-2 record in bowl games and he also participated in the Division I-AA playoffs in 1987 and 1988 with WKU.

A native of Ft. Campbell, Ky., Cassity is a graduate of Ft. Campbell High School. He was a two-sport athlete at Kentucky in football and wrestling. In football, he played from 1971-74, starting his final two seasons at safety. He received the Kiwanis Club 110 Percenter Award for his effort and dedication. On the mat, he placed third at the 1974 Southeastern Conference meet at 190 pounds.