Press Release – National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) 2025 Coaching Mentorship Program is now accepting applications to be a mentee. This new initiative is designed to support the growth and development of rugby coaches across all divisions and conferences. [lead photo c/o Christine Varga]
RELATED: Mentorship Application
The program is a twelve week virtual experience that pairs seasoned coaches from inside and outside NCR with developing coaches for structured, collaborative mentorship. The goal: to improve coaching quality, expand peer networks, and elevate the overall experience for our student-athletes.
Mentees will have access to experienced mentors for support and guidance, get structured professional development, grow their rugby network, and build confidence in practice planning, game-day management, and team culture. In addition, all participants will receive discounts on VEO cameras starting at $500 and a free 12-month live subscription.
The mentors for the pilot program are:
Rosalind Chou (Brown University)
Phil Egner (Swarthmore College)
Troy Hall (Clemson University)
Nancy Kechner (University of Virginia)
Tui Osborne (University of Texas A&M)
Meredith Pyke (St. Bonaventure University)
John Roberts (University of South Carolina)
Craig Wilson (Yale University)
Karameli Fa’aee (Brown University)
Lisa Jackson (Dartmouth College)
The 12-week virtual mentorship cycle will run from October-December and include bi-weekly 1:1 virtual meetings, goal-setting, practice planning, rugby-specific skills development, and culture-building strategies. Select mentees will have the opportunity to shadow coaches at National XVs, National 7s, and All Stars.
We are currently accepting mentees for the Fall 2025 pilot phase, running from October to December. Apply now using the link.
Schedule:
Now–Sept 30: Applications Open
Early October: Orientation and mentor/mentee matching
October–November: Mentors and mentees meet every other week.
December: Season feedback, Award 2026 Mentor of the Year, and 2026 Up and Coming Coach of the Year
January: Opportunities to shadow mentors at All Star events