Bryce Richmond Guides Team USA to Historic Gold at IIJL U16s
By Kara McDuffee
This summer brought a unique experience for Brewster boys’ lacrosse Head Coach Bryce Richmond, who returned from the International Indoor Junior Lacrosse (IIJL) World U16 Lacrosse Championship in East Aurora, New York, as part of a history-making Team USA staff. For the first time, the U.S. U16 squad earned gold in this premier box lacrosse event.
The IIJL World Championships are the top global event for young box lacrosse players, drawing elite teams and coaches from across North America and beyond. The 2025 U16 tournament, held at The Classic Rink just outside Buffalo, exposed young athletes to high-stakes international competition and gave coaches an invaluable chance to collaborate and grow.
Richmond joined the USA U16 coaching staff after regularly expressing his interest to the head coach at Eaglebrook School, where the team's training camps were held. Through this professional connection and consistent outreach over two years, he was invited to fill a spot when it became available—an opportunity he embraced for both professional development and to learn from experienced colleagues in the indoor game.
“I didn’t have a ton of indoor experience,” Richmond says. “So it was more of a professional development opportunity—to really learn from the other guys on staff and see this side of the game.”
Although new to the indoor game, Richmond brings ample lacrosse experience. After competing as a two-year captain and standout defenseman at Elmira College—where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees—he launched his coaching career at his alma mater as assistant coach and defensive coordinator. He went on to lead the boys’ varsity lacrosse program at Tilton School, helping establish its foundation, before joining Brewster as Associate Head Coach and now, this year, Head Coach.
His coaching experience no doubt helped contribute to Team USA’s success. After going undefeated in group play, beating both the Canadian team and the NAMLA team, composed of players from Seneca Nation, the team won the rematch against Canada in the championship with a score of 13-8 to bring home the gold medal.
After his time with Team USA, Richmond is eager to bring home the lessons he learned. “There are a lot of aspects as a coach you can bring from indoors to outdoors,” he said, citing increased composure under pressure and sharper technical skills as key takeaways. He’s eager to implement some of the new drills and skills training he picked up from the experience.
Some elements of coaching, however, transcend the differences between indoor and outdoor lacrosse. Chief among them are Richmond’s philosophy and the values he instills in his players. Reflecting on the intensity of competition, he recalled, “My ending note at all times in the locker room was to have fun and play with a smile on your face. Yes, it might be stressful, but at the same time, you’re playing a game that you love, and that’s the most important thing.”
With his first full season as head coach underway, Richmond is energized to lead with values at the forefront. “My mantra for the team this year is ‘CATS’—Character, Attitude, Toughness, and Service. At the end of the day, we want to win championships, but it’s really about building better men and preparing them for life after Brewster.”
