Jason Archbell - Men's Lacrosse Coach - University of Richmond Athletics

Jason Archbell

Title:
Volunteer Assistant Coach
Email:
jarchbell@richmond.edu
Phone:
662-3148

2024 marked Jason Archbell's third season on Dan Chemotti's staff and his second year as an assistant coach. Archbell served as a volunteer assistant coach at Richmond in 2022 before being elevated to assistant coach ahead of the 2023 season. With Archbell on staff, the Spiders won their conference championship and made NCAA Tournament appearances in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023.

Archbell works primarily with goalies, face off units, man-down and runs the box during games.

In 2024, the Spiders reached the conference tournament finals for the tenth-consecutive season and goalie Zach Vigue was named an Inside Lacrosse All-American honorable mention as well as the Atlantic 10 Co-Goalkeeper of the Year. Vigue posted a career-high .556 save percentage and was third in the country in goals against average at 9.26 en route to helping Richmond be third in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 9.38 goals per game. Under Archbell's guidance, Vigue finished the season ranked 12th in the nation and first in the A-10 with a .556 save percentage. At the face off dot, Jared Chenoy led Richmond in ground balls with 83 and recorded a career season-high face off win percentage of .520, going 166-319. Richmond's man-down defense was also one of the best in the country in 2024, ranking eighth at 0.745.

Under Archbell's tutledge in 2023, Vigue finished the season second in the Atlantic 10 in saves per game (10.75), saves percentage (.513), and goals against average (11.11), while the Spiders man-down defense ranked third (.686) in the conference.

Archbell played a vital role with the Spiders coaching staff when he arrived in 2022, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the staff after an eight-year run as a collegiate head coach. He helped Vigue to All-SoCon accolades in his first season as a starter. Vigue’s play got stronger as the year progressed, being named SoCon Defensive Player of the Month in January and earning SoCon All-Tournament accolades.

Archbell spent eight seasons as the head coach at Bowdoin College. He posted a 57-55 record in eight seasons at the helm of the Polar Bears. In 2016, Bowdoin posted a 12-5 mark, earning the third seed for the NESCAC Tournament, and totaling the most wins for the program since 2012, as Archbell was named the conference coach of the year. Nineteen athletes earned All-NESCAC, All-Region and All-American recognition during his tenure.

Prior to Bowdoin, Archbell was assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania, where he served as a defensive assistant and recruiting coordinator. The Quakers enjoyed one of their finest seasons in 2011, posting an 8-7 mark and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006. In 2012 Penn played one of the most difficult schedules in Division I and, despite a losing record, earned wins versus ranked North Carolina and Harvard.

A 2002 graduate of Hampden-Sydney, his coaching resume includes stops at Washington & Lee, Denison, Kenyon and Virginia Wesleyan.

Archbell arrived at Penn from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va., where he spent two years as the Generals' assistant coach and defensive coordinator. During his time at W&L, the Generals went 27-10 overall and won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championship in 2009.

As the defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Denison University in 2008, Archbell helped the Big Red to a 14-3 record behind a defense that allowed a nation-low 5.34 goals per game. As coach of the goalies, he oversaw goalkeeper Alex Baruch who was the national Division III Goalie of the Year. Archbell also spent two years as the defensive coordinator at Kenyon College, helping the Lords to a 23-6 record during that time and a spot in the 2006 NCAA Division III Championship. Archbell got his coaching start at Virginia Wesleyan College, where he spent three seasons as a defensive coordinator.

Archbell played his college lacrosse at Hampden-Sydney College, captaining the squad his senior year. The Tigers made three NCAA Championship appearances and won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) once during his career. Archbell was a two-time All-ODAC defenseman and earned honorable mention All-America as a senior.