BALTIMORE – UMBC head men's lacrosse coach James Purpura announced his inaugural coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, retaining Craig Chick as associate head coach and defensive coordinator and Nick Griffin as an assistant coach, while adding Kellen Arthur as an assistant coach.

Arthur joins the Retrievers after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at Mercer University. In his second season on staff in 2026, Arthur helped lead the Bears to six victories, the program's most since 2020.

At Mercer, Arthur coached the goalies, assisted with the defense, and managed the substitution box. He also contributed to recruiting, scouting, practice preparation, and other aspects of the program.

Prior to joining the Mercer coaching staff, Arthur was a four-year defensive midfielder for the Bears and appeared in 32 games during his collegiate career.

A native of Cockeysville, Maryland, Arthur is a graduate of Calvert Hall College High School and has family ties to Retriever lacrosse. His father, Alex Arthur, is a 1992 UMBC graduate and former member of the men's lacrosse program.

"I want to thank Coach James Purpura for the opportunity to join the UMBC men's lacrosse staff," Arthur said. "I'm excited to work alongside Coach Purpura, Coach Craig Chick, and Coach Nick Griffin. As a Maryland native whose father played at UMBC, this opportunity truly feels like a homecoming. I look forward to working with our student-athletes and helping build on the proud tradition of Retriever lacrosse, both on the field and in the classroom."

Chick enters his eighth season with the Retriever program after serving as interim head coach in 2026, guiding UMBC to a 6-7 record. He returns to his role as associate head coach and defensive coordinator, a position in which he has helped establish UMBC among the nation's top defensive programs. Under Chick, the Retrievers finished ninth nationally in scoring defense in 2022, fifth in 2023 and 19th in 2025.

Griffin, a 2021 UMBC graduate and former three-time team captain, enters his fifth season on the Retriever coaching staff. He served as defensive coordinator in 2026, leading a unit that finished 18th nationally in scoring defense, after previously serving as UMBC's offensive coordinator.

"My intention throughout this process was to assemble a staff that combines continuity with new ideas and shares a commitment to developing our student-athletes in every area," Purpura said. "Craig and Nick have invested a tremendous amount into UMBC lacrosse and understand what makes this program special. Kellen brings a new perspective, great energy, and strong ties to the state of Maryland and UMBC. Most importantly, all three are high-character people who care deeply about the student-athletes they coach. I'm excited to work alongside them as we begin this next chapter of Retriever lacrosse."

Coach Purpura on his coaching staff:

On Craig Chick:
"Craig was the first name on my list when I began thinking about defensive coordinators," Purpura said. "I have always had tremendous respect for him as a coach and for the defenses he has built at UMBC. Once I had the opportunity to get to know him, his relationships with our student-athletes, his commitment to the program and our alignment made it clear that retaining him was the right decision."

On Nick Griffin:
"I had gotten to know Nick as a coach in the profession and always had a great deal of respect for his knowledge of the game," Purpura said. "His understanding of lacrosse on both the offensive and defensive sides gives him tremendous versatility as a coach. As an alumnus who has spent nearly a decade in this program as both a player and coach, he has a genuine love for UMBC lacrosse and a deep investment in its success. I'm excited to have Nick on our staff and continue building this program together."

On Kellen Arthur:
"Kellen came highly recommended by everyone I spoke with throughout the process," Purpura said. "His character and values align extremely well with the culture we are building at UMBC. He is a talented young coach who brings great energy, a strong work ethic and a genuine desire to develop student-athletes. Kellen has a very bright future in this profession, and I'm excited to have him join our staff."

On the staff:
"My intention coming in was to put together a great staff for UMBC, and I firmly believe we have done that," said Purpura. "It was crucial to get a passionate, loyal, and committed staff together quickly so we can hit the ground running. We have a vision for the program, and this group will help allow us to accomplish those goals. All of these coaches have diverse backgrounds and help bring unique perspectives to the staff and program. They are excited to build relationships with our players and to start the next chapter of UMBC lacrosse and compete for championships"