HENNIKER, N.H. – New England College Director of Athletics Dave DeCew has announced today the hiring of Stephen “Fino” Annino as the new women’s rugby head coach.
“It gives us all great pleasure to announce Fino Annino as our new Women’s Rugby Head Coach,” said DeCew. “He has demonstrated in the past a true interest in developing his student-athletes as players and as people. We know he will fit into the culture of NEC Athletics and that our program will continue to grow under his leadership.”
Coach Annino heads to New England College with over 10 years of coaching rugby, and spending the last six years at Eastern Connecticut State University, as the head coach for their women’s rugby club team. His playing experience began in the early 1980s while he was still in college. He has had played for various men’s leagues, with stops at the Berlin Strollers, New Haven Old Blacks, Atlanta Old White, North Jersey Rugby, and is currently with the Connecticut Grey.”I am excited to be part of the New England College team,” said Annino. “I am looking forward to working with my new ruggers. I am sure we will develop a competitive and close-knit team together.”Annino earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education, from Central Connecticut State University in 1998 before receiving his Masts of Arts in Special Educations also from CCSU in 2011.
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New England College competes in Division III of the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA), the country’s NCAA varsity league. Fellow DIII members include Adrian College (Mich.), Bowdoin College (Maine), Castleton University (Vt.), Colby-Sawyer College (N.H.), Guilford College (W.V.), Manhattanville College (N.Y.), University of New England (Maine) and Norwich University (Vt.).