Mercersburg is proud to announce the appointment of Rick Sowell, a nationally respected figure in the sport of lacrosse, as the new head coach of the boys lacrosse program. Sowell, a veteran coach and former standout player, brings nearly three decades of experience at the youth, club, and collegiate levels to Mercersburg’s already talented coaching staff.

“We are excited to welcome Rick Sowell to Mercersburg,” said Athletic Director Lauren Jacobs. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and an impressive record of coaching success. Rick is deeply committed to mentoring student-athletes and fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, and integrity. In combination with Associate Head Boys Coach Tim Kerr, we will have one of the most dynamic coaching combinations in the region.”

Sowell’s career has spanned some of the most competitive lacrosse environments in the country. He has served as head coach at the United States Naval Academy, Stony Brook University, St. John’s University, and Dartmouth College. Earlier in his career, Sowell coached at the high school level for three years at St. Albans School before moving on to collegiate coaching as an assistant at Georgetown University.

Notably, Sowell is one of only four coaches in NCAA Division I lacrosse history to lead three different programs to the NCAA Tournament, Dartmouth (2003), Stony Brook (2010), and Navy (2016), each of which had a losing record prior to his arrival.

At Navy, he guided the Midshipmen to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009 and their first tournament win since 2008, upsetting No. 4 seed Yale University in the opening round. His leadership resulted in three Patriot League co-championships (2015, 2016, 2018), and he was named Patriot League Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons, the first to do so in league history. He also led Navy to four consecutive victories in the storied Star Game rivalry against Army from 2015 to 2018

At Stonybrook, Sowell orchestrated a breakthrough 2010 season that saw the Seawolves reach the NCAA quarterfinals after winning a conference title. That team produced multiple All-Americans, including USILA Player of the Year, Kevin Crowley, and set a program record with 13 wins.

Beyond the college game, Sowell remains deeply involved in the national lacrosse landscape. He serves as a coach and evaluator for the USA Lacrosse U15, U17, and U19 National Teams, where he helps identify and develop elite youth talent at national combines and tryouts. He is also a leader in club lacrosse, coaching with prominent programs such as Sweetlax and Red Hots, and plays a key role in recruiting and player development. In addition, he serves on the USA Lacrosse Outreach and Access Opportunities Committee, contributing to efforts that expand equity and inclusion in the sport.

“Rick brings an extraordinary combination of leadership, experience, and heart to our school community,” said Head of School Quentin McDowell P ’25, ’27. “His passion for developing young people through sport aligns perfectly with our values and vision. We are excited to see the impact he will have not only on the lacrosse field but also across all areas of student life."

Kerr, a member of the history faculty who will remain on staff as associate head boys coach, added, “I'm excited to work with Coach Sowell and offer him my full support as we take our program at Mercersburg to the next level. Our current and future players will undoubtedly benefit immensely from his expertise and guidance.”

“I’m thrilled to join the Mercersburg family and couldn’t be more excited to return to my roots in high school lacrosse,” said Sowell. “In many ways, this feels like coming full circle. I began my professional coaching career at the high school level before moving on to the collegiate ranks. I’m looking forward to helping young student-athletes grow as players, and as people, while building something special alongside Coach Kerr and the rest of this outstanding community.”

Sowell holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Washington College, where he was a two-time All-American and the 1985 NCAA Division III Midfielder of the Year. He is also a respected speaker, having presented at both the U.S. Lacrosse National Coaches Convention and the Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Convention.