Joe LaCasto: Soccer Player Turned Coach Gives Advice on How to Get Recruited

UNC Asheville Assistant Coach Joe LaCasto shares what it is like to transition from playing regularly to coaching on the sideline. Joe shares tips on how to get recruited from playing in high school and what to look for in a soccer program. About Joe LaCastoLaCasto graduated from UNC Asheville in May 2019 after playing four seasons for the Bulldogs as a midfielder. He was a regular in the lineup during his career, appearing in 73 games and starting 58, including all 17 contests of his senior season.A native of Huntington Beach, California, LaCasto earned distinction on the Big South All-Academic Team as a junior and senior and was selected as the Bulldog Award Winner for men’s soccer at the 2017 ASHPYS.As a team captain during his senior campaign, LaCasto earned the second-most playing time for the Bulldogs, recording 1,410 minutes on the pitch. He scored one goal on the season and had a pair of assists, including a helper on the game-winning goal on the road against Wofford. He also was named to the UNCW SpringHill Suites Classic All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the event.As a junior, he scored a career-best two goals during the season, including one to help preserve a 2-2 draw against Big South Conference-foe Presbyterian. He burst onto the scene as a freshman, starting 16-of-19 contests, notching one goal and piling up five assists, finishing second on the team with seven points.