St. Viator selects Archibald to lead football program
Dave Archibald is a 3-F kind of guy: Faith, Family and Football.
He is also the new head coach of St. Viator's football program, as the Arlington Heights school made it official on Monday.
"Dave is the kind of guy that will fit in right away with our community and with our kids," said St. Viator athletic director Marty Jennings, who had 46 applicants for the position. "Everyone I talked to about him said he was extremely passionate about football, his teaching and his faith life. We are super excited about him. He will be a guy that will run a program the right way."
Archibald, who is 34, will become a head coach for the first time in his career. He comes to the Lions from Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, where he has been a position coach for the last eight seasons. He has had stints as the co-passing coordinator, specials team and wide receiver coach. He has also been an assistant football coach at two high schools in Wisconsin and one in Memphis, Tenn.
"I am really excited," Archibald said. "This is something that I have always wanted to do, which is to be head coach at a Catholic high school."
Archibald, who received his master's degree in education from the Notre Dame University, currently teaches religion at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, where he prepped.
After high school, Archibald graduated from St. Norbert College. He was a two-year starter for the Green Knights and led the team in receiving in both of his seasons, during which they went 17-3 made the NCAA playoffs in 2001.
Although he grew up in the Milwaukee area, Archibald is very familiar with the rugged East Suburban Catholic Conference in which St. Viator competes. Archibald's father, George, played football and graduated from Joliet Catholic. And Dave Archibald also played with many former ESCC players when he was at St. Norbert.
"It is a great conference and I am very familiar with the tradition of it," Archibald said. "We look forward to playing a tough schedule every year."
Archibald becomes the ninth St. Viator football coach in the school's 50-year program, taking over from Brandon New, who resigned after last season. He inherits a Lion program that is coming off a 1-8 season and has qualified for the state playoffs twice in the last six years.
"He has great leadership skills and has tremendous reviews from what he does in the classroom," Jennings said. "Dave's organization and vision for this program is what stood out for us."
Archibald had a huge part in Wisconsin Lutheran's offense, which averaged 270 passing yards and had 23 touchdown passes. That could be crucial since St. Viator returns tight end and Notre Dame recruit Cole Kmet, starting quarterback Tommy Majerus and running back Darreontae Jackson.
"I have gotten to know a lot about the team on film," Archibald said. "I hope to be able to meet them soon and look forward to working with them. There is no doubt that there is talent in this group."
Archibald will be making frequent visits to Arlington Heights to meet with his players and interview for his staff until has completed the school year in Milwaukee. He plans to move to the area this summer with his wife and three children.
"It is going to be a change," Archibald said. "It is something we have talked about. But it is only 75 minutes from where we live now. St. Viator is the third-closest Catholic high school to Wisconsin, and that was appealing."