SMU TO ANNOUNCE JIM MITCHELL AS FIRST HEAD COACH.

SMU To Name Princeton Assistant Jim Mitchell as Mustangs’ First Lacrosse Head Coach

SMU is set to name Princeton offensive coordinator Jim Mitchell as the first head coach in the history of its new Division I men’s lacrosse program, a landmark hire as the Mustangs prepare for their inaugural season in 2028.

Mitchell arrives in Dallas after helping build one of college lacrosse’s most dynamic offenses at Princeton. Since joining the Tigers in 2020, he has guided units that consistently ranked among the nation’s best, including Princeton’s 2026 NCAA championship team. The Tigers averaged 14.84 goals per game last season, the third-highest mark in Division I, while their offense ranked second nationally in efficiency.

Known for an up-tempo, attacking style, Mitchell brings both head-coaching experience and a broad Division I résumé to the Hilltop. He previously served as head coach at Bellarmine and held assistant coaching roles at Rutgers, Duke, Roanoke and Goucher. At Rutgers, Mitchell helped establish the Scarlet Knights as a national contender before bringing his offensive system to Princeton.

The hire gives SMU a respected young leader to shape every element of the program—from recruiting and staffing to culture and competitive identity. The Mustangs will be the first NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse program in Texas and will join the ACC when varsity competition begins in the 2027-28 academic year.

SMU athletic director Damon Evans has emphasized the importance of finding a coach capable of recruiting, developing players and building an ACC-caliber culture from the ground up. Mitchell’s experience developing high-level offensive talent and competing on championship-stage teams makes him a natural fit for that task.

With a donor-funded launch, plans to enhance Crum Lacrosse and Sports Field, and an aggressive timeline toward its first season, SMU is signaling that it intends to enter Division I lacrosse ready to compete. Naming Mitchell as the program’s first head coach is the most significant step yet in turning that vision into reality.

The Mustangs’ first faceoff is still ahead, but the foundation of SMU lacrosse is now taking shape under a coach who knows what championship-level offense looks like—and how to build it.