Bio

Jacob Ashton returns for the 2023-24 season in his seventh year as the Anderson University head men’s lacrosse coach and the program's sixth official season. Ashton heads into the 2024 season following back to back winning seasons.

The 2023 season saw the Ravens Men’s Lacrosse program finish with a 7-5 record, their second winning season in only 5 years. Four players earned second-team all conference honors. Cole Whatley set the all time points record following his graduation. During his senior season, Whatley ranked sixth in the nation in goals per game was named Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference (HCLC) Offensive Player of the Week four times. Ashton also mentored Mason Bratcher, who finished the season 13th in the nation in caused turnovers per game. As a team, the Ravens finished 13th in the nation in scoring defense (8.13) and 16th in caused turnovers per game (13.17). Anderson also racked up nine HCLC Players of the Week in 2023.

The 2022 season saw the Ravens finish with an 8-6 record, finishing second in the HCLC North Division. Anderson totaled six all-conference selections in 2022. The Ravens finished in the top 25 nationally in three categories, which include 11th in opponent clearing percentage (.696), 12th in caused turnovers per game (13.13) and 22nd in ground balls per game (41.80).

Anderson totaled five HCLC Player of the Week selections during the 2021 season. Sophomore Cole Whatley earned HCLC Offensive Player of the Week Honors three times, Freshman Josh Rhodes earned HCLC Offensive Player of the Week Honors once and Junior Logan Lawrence earned Defensive Player of the week Honors one time.

Anderson collected an average of 39.27 ground balls per match in 2021, which led the conference and ranked 41st in the nation. The Ravens rewrote the school record books in 2021, setting single-season program records at the time in goals (100), assists (60), points (160), ground balls (445), caused turnovers (124), faceoff wins (132), faceoff win percentage (.480), goals against average (12.45), save percentage (.491), man-up goals (20) and man-down goals (2). Anderson also set the team single-game program records in goals (19), assists (13), points (31), ground balls (64), caused turnovers (19) and faceoff wins (19).

Four Ravens earned second-team all-HCLC honors in 2021. Freshmen Mason Bratcher and Bryce Johnson were both named on defense. Josh Rhodes received the honors on attack while Logan Lawrence garnered the honors on short-stick defense. Anderson also closed out the HCLC season with two statistical champions as Cole Whatley led the conference in goals per match while Mason Bratcher led the conference in caused turnovers per match.

During Ashton’s career, Anderson has totaled 15 all-conference selections and 19 conference players of the week.