Baylee Annis Named New Norwich Head Coach

Women’s Rugby welcomes back Baylee Annis ’14 as the new head coach. The ultra successful former Norwich student-athlete will take the helm of the dominant women’s rugby program starting immediately.

While at Norwich, Annis reached the pinnacle of success in everything she did. The English major, with minors in Education and Sociology, graduated with the highest honors being named Summa Cum Laude.

Athletically, she was equally accomplished. Annis was a part of a true golden era of women’s rugby at Norwich University. From 2010-14 the program won almost 92% of its games, had a combined 15s and 7s win-loss record of 100-9, as well as winning multiple National Titles in both 15s and 7s. Annis capped her career by being named Captain, helped the rugby program complete the perfect 40-0 record between 15s and 7s, and won National Titles in both 15s and 7s.

“Baylee Annis is the ideal fit to lead the Women’s Rugby program moving forward,” said Norwich University Director of Athletics Ed Hockenbury. “Her deep connections to Norwich, a strong relationship with Austin Hall, her varied and impressive playing and coaching experience since graduation, along with the rich success she had both academically and athletically as a Norwich student-athlete, made her the obvious choice. It is not often you are able to hire a National Champion who graduated Summa Cum Laude and is also an alum. I am excited to work with Baylee and look forward to seeing her and our players on the pitch in a few weeks.”

“First, I would like to thank President Anarumo, Director of Athletics Ed Hockenbury, and the members of the search committee for this opportunity,” said Coach Annis.  “This team and school helped to launch my rugby career and I am honored and thrilled to be returning to NU as the next head coach.

“When Austin Hall announced he was rotating into the assistant coach role, I saw an opportunity to lead a team I have great respect for,” Annis continued. “Norwich Rugby has a long tradition of strong character and tough competition, and I look forward to joining this talented coaching staff and athletes. I’m excited to support the student-athletes on and off the pitch towards success as students and as leaders in their futures. There is no better community to be a part of as we tackle the task of rebuilding in the wake of flooding across Vermont. The students, staff, and alumni are devoted and full of tenacity and I am eager to get started for the ’23 season.”

Since graduating Norwich, her career has continued as a combination of academics and athletics. Annis went on to get her Master of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from SUNY Cortland, attained her certification from the National Council on Strength & Fitness as a Certified Personal Trainer, and has also earned USA Rugby Coaching Level 200.
 
Annis was most recently the Head Women’s Rugby Coach for American University where the team captured the Capital Conference championship. Simultaneously, Annis was also the Life Skills & Academic Coach at Mansfield Hall where she helped teach life skills, community engagement, and brought academic support to collegiate students. Prior to being named the Head Women’s Rugby Coach at American University, Annis was the Head Women’s Rugby Coach at Paul Smith’s College.  During her time at Paul Smith’s College, she was also the Vermont High School Rugby Camp Scrum and Defense coach.

For over a decade, Annis has continued to work to improve the game of rugby in a variety of different roles including being a board member for the Can-Am Rugby Tournament (2017-19) as well as the Mountaineers Rugby Board (2018-22) where she also served as secretary. Since 2021, Annis has also been a Team USA Athlete Panelist.  Annis was a part of the USA Rugby National Team from 2012-17 and was selected for the 2017 World Cup.

As announced June 15, Coach Austin Hall stepped down as the Head Coach and will be the assistant coach this coming fall.  During his 19-year tenure as Head Coach, he has coached two teams in the Norwich University Athletic Hall of Fame.  The 2011-12 team was inducted last year and the 2012-13 team will be inducted this fall.  Coach Annis was a part of both of those teams.  In addition, three of Coach Hall’s former ruggers have been individually inducted in the Hall of Fame with Stephanie Hurley ’07 and Kathie Hathaway ’12 inducted last year, while Emily Baugus ’13 is a member of the 2023 Hall of Fame Class.

“The greatest joy in coaching is watching others succeed.  I’m excited to be able to step aside, hand off the baton, and play a supporting role in the next generation of Norwich rugby,” said Hall.

“I sincerely appreciate all that Austin Hall did as the leader of Norwich Women’s Rugby for many years. He helped raise our program to national prominence, and we are fortunate that he will still be here to support Baylee, as one of the finest players he coached at Norwich now takes the reins,” said Hockenbury.  “Coach Hall has had a huge impact on the Norwich Women’s Rugby team,” said Coach Annis, “and I am excited that he will be continuing his impact on the players and the program he has spent so long working with.  It will be a great benefit for the program, and myself personally, to have such a talented full-time assistant.”

The women’s rugby team will take the pitch on Saturday September 2nd for a jamboree to open the 2023 season.