BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — Dee Nash won a Women’s Premier League Rugby title while earning Back of the Year honors with the Colorado Gray Wolves in 2023. She also has experience coaching with Denver and Northeastern at the collegiate level and as a staff member with USA Rugby.
Now, Nash is joining the Long Island University women’s rugby program as head coach. Director of Athletics Ryan Kelly made the announcement on Monday.
“Today is an exciting day for Long Island University women’s rugby,” Kelly said. “Coach Nash’s past experiences as a professional athlete and collegiate coach will have an outstanding impact on our student-athletes. We look forward to the growth of our program and Division I women’s rugby on Long Island.”
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Nash began this academic year as the assistant coach for the men’s team at the University of Denver, while completing her playing career. She designed and implemented backs-specific training sessions, worked with centers on improving their open field defensive play and running lines in attack, and implemented full-team attacking structure with the support of the head coach.
She previously served as the head coach of The Rugby Advantage at the Grenada Rugby World 7s and as the head coach of the Rocky Mountain Magic 7s team. Nash also worked as an assistant coach with the women’s team at Northeastern University from 2017-19.
On the national stage, Nash served as Women’s National 15s team logistics manager with USA Rugby. From 2020-22, she oversaw and coordinated all team logistics including training schedules, strength and conditioning sessions, and team equipment.
Colorado center Dee Nash (Photo: Jackie Finlan/The Rugby Breakdown)
Nash graduated from Boston University with a bachelor of science degree in athletic training in 2014. There, she captained the women’s rugby club as a senior while playing throughout her undergraduate career.
Her subsequent playing career includes spending 2020-23 with the WPL’s reigning champion Colorado Gray Wolves, and also as a champion with the WPL’s Glendale Merlins in 2019.
“I am thrilled about the opportunity to take on the head coaching position for the women’s rugby team at Long Island University,” Nash said. “Ryan Kelly has been immensely supportive of women’s rugby at LIU, helping me transition smoothly into this role. We are eager to continue the positive momentum from the club’s recent growth as a developing program.
“Drawing from my experiences as both a player and coach at various successful rugby clubs, I am confident in my ability to contribute to the ongoing development and success of the Sharks.”
Nash takes over for Joey Rasmus, who served as LIU head coach from fall 2022-fall 2023, and is the Sharks’ fourth coach since elevating to Division I in fall 2019.