The Archibald File
Hometown: Tempe, Ariz.
Alma Mater (Year): Boise State (1997)
Degree: Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences with an emphasis in communications
Coaching Experience:
2024-present: Assistant Coach, Green Bay
2023-2024: Assistant Coach, Tarleton State
2003-06: Assistant Head Coach, New Mexico State
2003-06: Associate Head Coach, Iowa State
2000-03: Assistant Coach, USC
1999-00: Assistant Coach, Pepperdine
1997-99: Graduate Assistant, Fresno State
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Head Coach Doug Gottlieb announced the addition of Damon Archibald to the men's basketball coaching staff on June 6, 2024.
Archibald brings a pedigree of winning, having competed as a player and coach in the NCAA Tournament with six different programs, most recently as an assistant coach at Tarleton State during the 2023-24 season.
In his lone season on the Texan bench, he was a part of a staff that broke multiple records in Tarleton State's Division I era. The Texans set a new record with 25 overall wins and registered 16 wins in WAC play, the highest in any conference in program history. Tarleton State was one of 17 NCAA Division I teams this past season to register 10 road wins this season and was the only reclassifying team to accomplish the feat.
Across his coaching career, Archibald has coached 30 postseason conference selections including the 2000 PAC-10 Player of the Year, Sean Clancy. He also guided 12 future NBA Draft picks including three first round picks. In addition, five former players signed NBA contracts as an undrafted free agent.
Archibald started his coaching journey as a graduate assistant at Fresno State staff from 1997-1999. In both seasons, the Bulldogs enjoyed 20-plus winning seasons and reached the NIT Final Four in Madison Square Garden in 1998. While with Fresno State, he coached a pair of future NBA first round picks, Melvin Ely (12th) and the nation's leading scorer Courtney Alexander (13th). After his time with the Bulldogs, Archibald spent the 1999-2000 season on staff at Pepperdine. The Waves boasted a 25-9 record in 2000 winning a WCC regular season title and runner-up to Gonzaga in the WCC Tournament led by future NBA first round pick (23rd overall), Brandon Armstrong. Pepperdine earned a bid to the 2000 NCAA Tournament and knocked off Bobby Knight's sixth-seeded Indiana Hoosiers in Knight's final game, 77-57.
Archibald's next stop was Los Angeles, Calif., to serve as USC Assistant 2000-2003 where he started as the youngest assistant coach in the Pac-10. During his three years with the Trojans, the team made a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances including a run to the Elite Eight in 2001 for the program's best finish since 1961. As an integral part of the Trojan recruiting, Archibald helped the Trojans earn the number two rated recruit class in 2004 that included three future NBA Draft picks: 2004 first round pick, Robert Swift, 2007 first round pick, Nick Young, and 2007 second round selection, Gabriel Pruitt.
After USC, Archibald headed to Iowa State for three seasons to serve as the associate head coach to Wayne Morgan. The Cyclones reached the second round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament following a win over eight-seeded Minnesota before bowing out to the eventual 2005 Nation Champion North Carolina Tar Heels in the second round. He once again helped build the second-rated recruiting class in the country in 2006 for the Cyclones. Future second round pick, Jackson Vroman was one of Archibald's star pupils with the Cyclones. Archibald left Iowa State for New Mexico State in 2006 to be an assistant head coach for one season under Reggie Theus.
Archibald left college athletics as he was offered the chance to coach the Sacramento Kings 2008 Summer League team. He coached six NBA Draft picks including top-ten selection Spencer Hawes.
Following, Coach Archibald spent several years as a personal trainer where he was hired by NBA teams, agents, and players to work out athletes for future NBA Drafts, and upcoming seasons.
Before his jump into coaching, Archibald began his post-prep playing career at Boise State before finishing at NAIA Albertson College of Idaho. In 3 years at Boise State, Archibald averaged 8.1 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game in 71 contests. He averaged a career-high 9.6 points per game in his final season with the Broncos. Archibald led the Big Sky his junior year with 2.2 steals per game. Archibald ranked in the top 10 in steals per game in the conference in all three years in Boise. Appearing twice in the NCAA Tournament with the Broncos, Archibald tallied six points against Vanderbilt and five points with six assists in a start against Louisville. For his final season of eligibility, Archibald played at Albertson College of Idaho. He was named the Cascade Conference "Newcomer of the Year", and was named 1996 NAIA Tournament MVP as a member of the '96 NAIA National Champions.
Archibald has two sons, Bradoc and Tydan both of whom have played under coach Billy Gillispie. Bradoc played at Ranger College for coach Gillispie and Tydan played at Tarleton last season. Archibald a Tempe, Ariz., native, graduated from Corona Del Sol High School. He graduated from Boise State in 1997 with a degree in Social Sciences with an emphasis in communications.
