I thought this was a great story so I decided to pass it along. I’ll only be summarizing it, but for the full story and video, head on over to GoDuke.com.

Five years ago (2007), Casey Carroll finished his senior season at Duke as a member of their men’s lacrosse team.

Five years later (2012), Carroll is back at Duke and getting ready to suit up for the men’s lacrosse season this upcoming spring.

So what happened in between?

He joined the Army. That decision was influenced by former teammate Sgt. James J. Regan, who died in 2007 while serving in Iraq. As a member of the Army’s 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Caroll served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Carroll and his wife Erin also had a baby boy in September.

He is back at Duke with a final year of eligibility due to missing the majority of his junior year due to injury. He is a full-time student again (along with being a first time father), pursuing a Masters of Business Administration degree.

Carroll said he now can fully appreciate the experience. His former teammate, Matt Danowski is now an assistant coach. Some of his teammates are brothers of his former teammates or kids he coached during the summer at lacrosse camps. Quite a few are ten years younger than him, which has earned him nicknames like “pops” and “old man”.

His desire to play and his skill level have not changed over the five years and he is just looking forward to getting on the field and wearing the Duke uniform.