From 1993 to 1996, Abell was an assistant at several high schools in Virginia before being named the head coach at Liberty High School in Bedford, Virginia, in 1997. He was then head coach at Amherst County High School in Amherst, Virginia, from 2002 to 2007 before joining Washington and Lee as its offensive coordinator. He was promoted to head coach of the Generals in 2012, leading them to three playoff appearances.
In 2018, Abell was named head coach at Davidson, who he led to three consecutive playoff appearances.
On November 26, 2024, Abell was named head coach at Rice.[2]