GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida men’s lacrosse program is thrilled to announce the hiring of Casey Adams as an assistant coach.

Adams, who played at Gainesville’s Buchholz High School, has been instrumental in growing the game within Alachua County and the surrounding area.

Adams has been on the lacrosse staff at Buchholz in some capacity since his graduation in 2010, and he has been the head man there since 2015. In his three seasons at the helm, Buchholz has amassed a 31-17 record, highlighted by the program’s first-ever district championship in 2017 when they upset north Florida powerhouse Oak Hall to win the FL-District 3 title.

That achievement earned Adams the Gainesville Sun’s Coach of the Year award for 2017. Coach Adams also manages Lacrosse Club Gainesville, a high school club program that offers elite instruction and showcase opportunities to dedicated players in north central Florida.

Adams will continue to serve as the head coach at Buchholz in addition to his new role with the Gators.

“Coach Adams will be a tremendous addition to our staff, and we couldn’t be more fortunate than to have such a qualified and motivated coach right here in our backyard,” said Florida coach Garrett Hanrahan. “Casey and I had crossed paths over the past few years in the local lacrosse scene, but we’d both been so focused on our respective programs that I don’t think either one of us ever had a chance to stop and consider the collaborative possibilities.

"After finally meeting a few times and talking shop, he impressed me with his knowledge of the game, with the body of work and success he’s compiled in the local lacrosse scene, and, most of all, with his passion for coaching. Casey is clearly in his element when coaching the game of lacrosse, and I have no doubt that his passion and capability will help us take that next step towards being a national championship program in the MCLA.”

Florida, which won 11 games and climbed as high as No. 23 in the MCLA Under Armour Coaches’ Poll in 2018, is looking to qualify for the MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour this coming season.

The Gators begin fall ball in a few short weeks when classes resume in late August.