Army West Point Athletics
Men's Rugby
- Title:
- Assistant Men's Rugby Coach
- Email:
- jacob.mizell@westpoint.edu
- Phone:
- 3217
Jake Mizell enters his fourth season as the Assistant Coach of the Army West Point Men's Rugby program.
In the 2024-25 season, Mizell helped guide the Black Knights to a 11-4 overall record, falling in the quarterfinals of the CRAA Rugby Championships. Under his leadership, Army had a commanding win over rival Air Force outscoring them 43-20. The Black Knights also dominated in Rugby East play with a 4-1 record, triumphing over opponents Mary Washington, Southern Virginia, Penn State, and St. Bonaventure. Throughout these victories, they outscored their rivals by a notable margin, tallying 129 points while conceding only 76.
Hooker Andrew Bardak, center Benji Kemp, tighthead prop Gabe Savage, lock George Engels and fullback Nate Gould each garnered CRAA D1A All-American honors, with Gould also being a finalist for the Rudy Scholz Player of the Year award, which recognizes the nation's top male college rugby player.
In the 2023-24 season, Mizell helped guide the Black Knights to a 5-6-1 overall record, securing a spot in the D1A Rugby National Championship bracket. He also led the team to numerous conference victories over Penn State, Queens, and Mary Washington.
In his first season, Mizell steered the Black Knights to a 13-8 overall record, achieving a third-place finish in the CRAA Rugby 7s Championship. Under his leadership, Army excelled in Rugby East play with a 6-1 record, defeating opponents such as Kutztown, Queens, Notre Dame College, St. Bonaventure, Penn State, and Mount St. Mary’s. The team outscored their conference rivals by a notable margin, tallying 196 points while conceding only 65.
Mizell arrived at West Point after serving as the head coach at Arkansas State. In his first season there, he elevated the program significantly, bringing in 25 recruits in one semester. Under his guidance, two Red Wolves were drafted to Major League Rugby, with a third signing as a free agent. Off the field, Mizell helped his players achieve a team cumulative GPA of 3.2.
Before Arkansas State, Mizell was the top assistant, forward coach, and recruiter for Iowa Central Community College Men's Rugby. He played a pivotal role in the team's 2019 D1AA 15s National Championship and helped one player earn a spot on the USA U20 National team, with another being selected in the first-ever Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft.
Mizell also had a stint at the University of Oklahoma, where he served as the forward coach, recruiting coordinator, and strength and conditioning coach for the men's rugby team.
As a player at Arkansas State, Mizell contributed to the program's two USA Rugby 7s National Championships in 2012 and 2013 and advanced to the title game of the 15s tournament in 2012. He was named an All-American and later played for the Glendale Raptors, helping them win a Pacific Rugby Premiership Championship.
Mizell graduated from Arkansas State in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in History.
