BIDDEFORD, Maine – The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) has announced the appointment of Amy Rusert as its commissioner. Rusert replaces Katie Boldvich, who resigned in June to become the commissioner of the New England Collegiate Conference.
Rusert comes to NIRA as an accomplished and well-respected advocate, coach and administrator for the sport of women’s rugby. She served as the commissioner for three women’s and men’s divisions of the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Conference from 2010-2017 and has since served in an ex officio capacity while onboarding and training the new commissioner. Rusert also is the head women’s club rugby coach at the Air Force Academy.
Founder of the USA Rugby/NCAA Emerging Sports List movement in 1996, Rusert was responsible for the strategic growth and national office support for all intercollegiate rugby programs in the United States. In that role she met three years of International Rugby Board development markers to secure grant support from the Rugby World Cup Trust, while developing strategic collaborations with the United States Olympic Committee and NCAA.
“We are very pleased to name Amy Rusert as commissioner of our association,” said Curt Smyth, director of athletics at the University of New England and NIRA Executive Committee President. “Amy’s history of advocacy for the sport of women’s rugby coupled with her tremendous skill set makes her the ideal person to lead NIRA while growing and marketing the sport on a national level.”
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