Phil Casella named head coach of AU women's soccer

American Taps NEC Champion Phil Casella as Head Women’s Soccer Coach

WASHINGTON – American University Athletics has named Phil Casella the next head coach of the Eagles’ women’s soccer program, as announced today by Director of Athletics and Recreation JM Caparro.
 
Casella joins AU following nine seasons as the head coach at Wagner, where he led the Seahawks to the 2025 Northeast Conference Championship and the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Under his leadership, Wagner reached the NEC postseason in each of the last three years, made two championship-game appearances, and recorded the best overall and conference records in program history.
 
He brings more than two decades of collegiate coaching experience to American, including successful stints as an assistant at Mississippi State, Fordham, and Fairleigh Dickinson.

We are thrilled to welcome Phil as the next head coach of our women’s soccer program. Throughout the search process, Phil consistently impressed us with his clear vision for building a competitive program grounded in player development, accountability, and a relentless work ethic. I would like to thank Katie Benoit and Patty Medina for their leadership throughout the search and for their efforts in bringing Phil to AU. We are excited to see Phil get started and look forward to the future of our program under his leadership.
JM Caparro, Director of Athletics and Recreation

Casella’s tenure at Wagner was marked by steady, historic progress. The Seahawks posted three straight postseason berths from 2023–25, reached consecutive NEC semifinals, and captured four postseason wins over the last three years. Wagner earned the program’s best NEC finish in 2024, then topped it in 2025 with an 11–3–6 overall record and 8–1–2 conference mark on the way to the league title.

I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to work at American University. From the very beginning of the process, it was clear to me how committed and driven everyone on the search committee is. I am especially grateful to Katie Benoit, Patty Medina, and JM Caparro for trusting me with the future of the women’s soccer program. Their vision and commitment to athletics, and to women’s soccer specifically, were evident from day one. I am thrilled to begin working with our student-athletes and to introduce the goals, expectations, and vision that will guide our program moving forward. Our focus will be on preparation, consistency, and putting ourselves in the best possible position to succeed every single day.
Phil Casella, Head Women's Soccer Coach

Prior to Wagner, Casella served as an assistant coach at Mississippi State, where he oversaw recruiting and player development while helping the Bulldogs reach their highest RPI in program history. His earlier coaching career included impactful assistant roles at Fordham and Fairleigh Dickinson, where he helped both programs reach conference championships and postseason success.
 
Casella also holds extensive coaching experience at the elite youth and amateur levels and has developed multiple players who went on to NWSL and U.S. National Team careers.
 
He is a 1996 graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson, where he played collegiately and earned a degree in communications and advertising.

For the latest on American University Women's Soccer, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on X (@AU_WSoccer) and Instagram (@au.wsoccer). 

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