Casey Kirley
Head Coach and General Manager
Casey Kirley was announced as the inaugural head coach and general manager of the Watertown Shamrocks on May 12, 2024.
Kirley joins the Shamrocks with a bevy of coaching experience throughout the NAHL, most recently with the Wisconsin Windigo where he served as the Associate Head Coach (2023-24) and as an assistant (2022-23). He was pivotal to the success of the Windigo, helping lead them to a Midwest best 39 wins in 2022-23 and their first playoff series win in franchise history.
His resume also features a winning pedigree. He helped lead the Shreveport Mudbugs to a 2018 Robertson Cup Championship in his first year in the league as an assistant. Overall, as an assistant in the NAHL, Kirley’s teams have amassed a 172-93-17-18 record — collecting a .560 winning percentage and a .674 points percentage.
Kirley’s journey in hockey is marked by a series of progressive roles climbing up the ranks. Prior to his time with the Windigo, he also served as an assistant for the Minnesota Magicians (NAHL, 2021-22), Trine University (NCAA DIII, 2019-20), the Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL, 2017-2019), the North Iowa Bulls as both an assistant coach (2015-16) and assistant General Manager/Director of Player Personnel (2016-17) during their time as an NA3HL franchise, and the Great Falls Americans (NA3HL). His off ice career has also featured stops with the Sioux Falls Stampede as a scout (2016-17) and working with the USA Select 15’s program (2019-2021).
As a player, the Hayward, WI native played for a handful of teams in the NAHL spending parts of two seasons between the Kenai River Brown Bears, Springfield Jr. Blues, Janesville Jets and the Alexandria Blizzard. Following his junior career, he advanced to the NCAA DIII level playing all four years collegiately at the University of Wisconsin-Stout (2010-2014). During his final season at Wisconsin-Stout, Kirley was joined by his brother, Nolan, who was entering his freshman season with the Blue Devils. In his four seasons, Kirley appeared in 84 career games.
Griff Jeszka
Assistant Coach
Email: assistant.coach@watertownshamrocks.com
Jeszka was added to the Shamrocks coaching staff ahead of the organizations inaugural season in 2024-25.
Jeszka, a native of Muskego, WI, comes to Watertown with a load of playing experience and a year of coaching in the North American Hockey League. During the 2023-24 season, made his debut behind the bench as an assistant with the Kenai River Brown Bears.
As a player, Jeszka’s career features a long resume having spent a decade playing post high school. A graduate of Marquette University High, he advanced to the NAHL straight out of high school spending three years in the league from 2013-2016. He Debuted with the Coulee Region Chill for parts of two seasons before he was dealt to Corpus Christi and then closed out his junior career with the Brookings Blizzard where he broke out with 48 points in 59 games.
Jeszka committed to the University of Massachusetts (NCAA DI) where he spent two seasons with the Minutemen before transferring to Merrimack College (NCAA DI). After his collegiate career, Jeszka signed with the Worcester Railers of the ECHL in 2020. He spent parts of the next three years playing in the ECHL and the SPHL with the Tulsa Oilers, Pensacola Ice Flyers, Orlando Solar Bears, Indy Fuel, Iowa Heartlanders, Kansas City Mavericks, and Maine Mariners.
Garrett Nieto
Goaltending Coach
Garrett Nieto, from Yorba Linda, California, joined the Shamrocks as their inaugural goaltending coach in 2024. He grew up playing youth hockey for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks, California Wave, and Los Angeles Jr. Kings. After his first year of U16AAA Garrett was named to the USA Warren Strelow National Goalie Development Camp for his birth year. He was drafted to the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the 2014 USHL Draft in the 11th round, 168th overall pick. He was drafted again by the Cedar Rapids Roughriders in the 2018 USHL draft in the 13th round, 206th overall pick.
After his second year of U16AAA he moved on to play 2 years of junior in Wenatchee, Washington for the Wenatchee Wild in the BCHL. After his rookie season he received the honor of being on the BCHL All-Rookie team. He went on to play 2 more years of junior hockey in Janesville, Wisconsin for the Janesville Jets in the NAHL. He earned a spot on the 2018 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament. He later switched his commitment to play for Union College (NCAA-D1) in the ECHC. After playing 3 years of college hockey for Union College he played his final year of college hockey for Wilkes University (NCAA-D3) in the UCHC.
Once his playing career was over, he began his coaching career where he is now with the Plymouth Goaltending Director for MEGA. Alongside his work with MEGA and the Shamrocks, he works as a goalie coach for the Granite City Lumberjacks in the NA3HL in 2023. Additionally, he serves as the remote goalie coach for the King’s College Women’s Hockey Team (NCAA-D3).
Sam Cappadora
Head Athletic Trainer
Sam Cappadora joined the Shamrocks ahead of their inaugural season in 2024. She joins the Shamrocks after spending the previous year with the Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL).
A native of Wisconsin, Cappadora attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where she graduated with a BS and MS degree in Athletic Training. She takes pride in working with athletes and helping them through injuries to get back into a position to play and compete again.
In her time with the Wilderness, Cappadora worked as a student under the supervision of another Stevens Point graduate. That experience allowed her to make connections throughout the NAHL and led to her reaching out to the Prairie Lakes Healthcare System to see if they had an opening with the Shamrocks.