Jack Kearney - Men's Lacrosse Coach - University of Richmond Athletics

Jack Kearney

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
jack.kearney@richmond.edu

Jack Kearney joined Dan Chemotti's staff in August of 2024 as an assistnat coach. Kearney comes to Richmond from NJIT and will work closely with the goalies, faceoff athletes, wing unit and defense.

“We’re excited to announce Jack Kearney as the newest addition to the Richmond coaching staff,” said Chemotti. “We had a talented group of candidates for this position, but Jack is the full package. Coaching is a way of life for him, and he has demonstrated that to the coaching community through his work ethic, professionalism, and intelligence. He exceeded the glowing recommendations given by his past colleagues and has proven himself on the field and on the recruiting trail. Additionally, he is exceptional at developing players, including both specialty positions (those statistics speak for themselves). Jack will take the lead with our specialists and assist with our defensive group in every respect. We are excited and lucky to learn from Jack and watch him elevate our program.”

In 2025, Kearney helped lead the Spiders to its best season yet. The Spiders posted a record-breaking 14–3 overall mark, including a perfect 5–0 run through Atlantic 10 play to claim their first-ever A-10 regular-season title and a second conference tournament championship in three years. Richmond earned its first NCAA Tournament victory, upsetting No. 8 North Carolina, 13–10, in Chapel Hill in a defining moment for the program. The Spiders ranked as high as No. 5 in the national polls, the highest ranking in program history, and joined only two-time defending champion Notre Dame as the only 2025 NCAA Tournament teams ranked in the top 10 nationally in both scoring offense and defense. Under Kearney's leadership, faceoff specialist Jared Chenoy went 107-for-188 (.667) on faceoffs during the season, finishing his career second all-time at Richmond in faceoff win percentage (.517, 646-for-1,249). He also played a key role in the success of goalie Zach Vigue, who was named Atlantic 10 Goalie of the Year and earned All-America honors. Vigue became Richmond’s all-time saves leader and recorded 14 wins as a starter in 2025—the most ever by a Spider goalie.

Kearney came to Robins Stadium following two seasons as an assistant at NJIT. While with the Highlanders, Kearney helped lead the team to a 7-0 start to begin the 2024 season. He helped turn around a NJIT team that prior to last season, had only won 10 games in its first nine seasons of existence. During 2024, Kearney helped the Highlanders double their program record for wins in a season (previously 3, set in his first season on staff in 2023), pick up the nation’s longest win streak (8 games including the 2023 finale), receive votes in the Inside Lacrosse and USILA Top 20 polls for three consecutive weeks and help land defenseman Hank Bethel on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List.

Prior to his time in Newark, Kearney served as Bryant’s volunteer assistant and goalie coach for two seasons. In the same time Kearney was on staff, the Bulldogs reached two NEC tournaments, winning it all in 2021 and advancing to the NCAA tournament. In 2021, he coached goalie Luke Caracciolo to 2021 NEC tournament MVP status and was named First Team All-New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA).

Kearney’s first collegiate coaching job came in 2018 at his alma mater, Post, where he was an assistant and served as defensive coordinator. Kearney graduated from Post in 2017 with a degree in criminal justice. He played long-stick midfield for the Eagles and is Post’s career record holder with 55 games played and 60 caused turnovers. He is second all-time with 137 ground balls, posting 47 alone in 2014 en route to being named Second Team All-NEILA. He is one of just two Poet players to ever receive the honor.