NSCRO Player and Coaching Development Committee

The NSCRO has assembled from its ranks four outstanding coaches whose skills and expertise go beyond coaching and include the development of coaches, players and clubs from collegiate to national levels. Their skills have been honed with experience, not only in the US, but internationally, as well.

The Committee's mission, set forth by NSCRO President, Steve Cohen, is to:

• Foster the improvement of the skills of small college players and coaches, to include encouraging attendance to selected camps, workshops and courses, providing resources, etc.
• Conduct workshops, such as on 'how to become a better coach'.
• Provide NSCRO financial support for players and coaches "in need" to enable attendance at courses and camps, as well as to provide grants to players selected to attend USAR Collegiate All-American Camps.
• Support the development of clubs that will aid their growth and success, such as learning ways to gain and to improve school administration support.
• Develop alliances with companies and organizations dedicated to improving player, coaching and team performance.

The four coaches appointed to this committee are:

Bryn Chivers, Head Coach, Augustana College Women's RFC (Sioux Falls, SD)
Since 1982 Bryn has been coaching women's colleges and senior clubs with progressive success. Prior posts include head coach at the University of Michigan, the Chicago RFC, the University of Illinois, and the Chicago North Shore RFC. For 10 years he was the head coach of the Midwest Women's Collegiate Select-Side and from 2005 to 2012 was the head coach of the USA Rugby U20 Women's National Team.

Lachlan Ferguson, Director of Rugby, St. Edward's University RFC (Austin, TX)
Lach has coached rugby in a professional capacity in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, England, and France for the past 15 years. He has worked as a Scholarship Coach, Coach Assessor and Academy Coach with the Queensland Rugby Union. He was the first professional rugby coach appointed within the Post Primary Educational sector by the Northern Ireland Education Board. He has coached successfully as Rugby Master at prestigious schools in Australia and Ireland. Since moving to America in 2010, Lach has become the Director of Rugby at St. Edward's University, winning undefeated Texas College Championships in Div 3 and Div 2. Last season St Edwards lost only one game in the Div 1AA Southwest Collegiate Rugby Conference. Under Coach Ferguson the Austin Rugby Club in 2011 became only the 2nd Club in USA Rugby history to qualify 2 teams (D1 & D3) for the National Championships Playoffs in one season. In 2013 both Austin Rugby Club teams again qualified for the National Championships.

Dallen Stanford, Director of Rugby, Occidental College RFC (Los Angeles, CA)
Dallen began his playing career in South Africa and has excelled both as a player and coach. He currently plays and coaches with great success at both. As a player he recently won Gold in 7s and Bronze in 15s for Team USA at 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel. From 2006 to 2009, Dallen played in 13 tournaments in the IRB 7s World Series for the USA Eagles 7s National Team. As a coach, Dallen led the Occidental College Rugby Club to the 2013 NSCRO PacWest Region Championship where they were narrowly prevented from advancing to the NSCRO National XVs Championships. Occidental completed the XVs season ranked 5th in country (out of 211 colleges). Occidental's coach would not rest on those laurels. Stanford coached his charges on to win the inaugural NSCRO National 7s Championship just a few months later.

Jeremy Treece, Head Coach, New England College RFC (Henniker, NH)
Jeremy founded Franciscan University RFC in 2000 and was a player-coach through 2005. As a coach he co-founded the Kearsarge (NH) HS rugby club, then rebuilt a dormant New England College club in 2011 leading them to the New England RFU and NSCRO Northeast Region Championship in 2012 in their first season returning to league play. In the Spring, NEC finished third at the NSCRO National Championship and followed that success with a third place finish at the NSCRO National 7s Championship.

From: Steve Cohen, NSCRO President