Coaching is about more than wins and losses. It is about making a positive impact on the game, the people, and the community. NCR is proud of its over 800 coaches dedicated to improving the lives of young men and women playing college rugby across the United States.
The Coach of the Month program recognizes coaches who exemplify the characteristics of a strong role model, build confidence and character in their players, devote time and energy towards building for the future, and make a profound impact in the lives of their athletes and the sport of rugby.
NCR and Rugbee.co are pleased to announce Courtney Morris as April’s Coach of the Month. Morris is the head coach of Coastal Carolina Women’s Rugby. She started coaching the team in 2022.
Starting her rugby career at Clemson University in 2016, Morris quickly stood out on the field, earning a spot on the All Tournament Team of the CRCs in 2018 and representing Carolina Women's Select Side and USA South. A scholarship to Life University in 2019 allowed her to learn from top coaches in the country.
Since becoming head coach, Morris has led Coastal Carolina to regional and national qualifications in both 15s and 7s formats. Under her guidance, the team has produced three All Americans and three U23 South Regional players.
The effort of Morris hasn’t gone unnoticed by her team either, “Courtney has helped to open the school gym earlier for team lifts to improve strength and safe room sessions where teammates can share their struggles and victories to improve support among teammates and mental health of players. She has also encouraged players to join in study groups with fellow players to achieve academic success.”
Morris is actively committed to growing the Coastal Carolina program by participating in youth camps and recruiting events. The team has their first recruit joining them in the fall.
NCR and Rugbee.co are proud to recognize Mark Dixon as March’s Coach of the Month. Dixon is the head coach of the Southeastern Louisiana University Men’s team and started coaching the team in 2018.
Dixon’s coaching career began in 2014, co-founding the St. Paul’s High School rugby team with Dr. Don Hart in Covington, Louisiana. He helped coach the team to an undefeated season and conference win in 2015.
In 2018, Dixon and Dr. Hart worked to rebuild the Southeastern Louisiana University program. With unwavering support from alumni and faculty, they led the team to an undefeated Deep South Collegiate Conference season in 2019. Despite facing challenges like the pandemic and Hurricane Ida, their resilience paid off. In 2022, the team dominated their conference once more, going undefeated again.
Dixon successfully petitioned for the team to join the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference (SCRC). The fall of 2023 saw them undefeated in conference play, SCRC Small College Champions, and NCR playoff participants in Culpepper, VA. Five players earned SCRC All-Conference honors, and Coach Dixon himself received the SCRC Small College Coach of the Year award.
Southeastern Louisiana nominated Dixon, highlighting his impact on their program, "He makes every practice, convinces us we can be great, and also takes advice from members of the team and puts them into action. This club has went from nothing to nearly missing the final 4 in 5 years. A big part of this success has been because of the family environment that Mark Dixon has created.”
Dixon is supported by his family and their restaurant in Mandeville, Louisiana, as well as his loyal supporters, including his daughter’s dog, Buddy.
NCR and Rugbee.co proudly announce Meredith Pyke as the February Coach of the Month. Pyke, the head coach of St. Bonaventure Women’s Rugby, has been coaching the team since 2022.
Pyke's rugby journey began as a player at the University of Rochester in 2009, where she served as the captain and club president. She led the team to the Small College Nationals in Cherry Hill, NJ in 2009. Her passion for the sport led her to coaching the University of Rochester team in 2015, guiding them to a second-place finish at 7s Nationals in 2019. Additionally, Pyke joined the Upstate NY All-Star Coaching staff in 2017, eventually becoming the head coach. She also coaches the Allegheny Rugby Union U19 team.
After accepting the full-time coaching position at St. Bonaventure in 2021, Pyke has played a pivotal role in the program's growth and success. In her first year, the team secured second place in their conference and qualified for regionals for the first time since 2014. This season, they earned the Women’s Small College National Championship.
Nominated by her team, the Bonnies say this about their coach, “She has devoted countless hours to this women’s rugby program, invested time, energy, funds, and training into building a strong, successful program in less than two years despite inheriting next to nothing…She is such a genuine person, and all she strives for is to better us as people, and to expand the sport and empower women.”
The St. Bonaventure Women’s Rugby program is transitioning into a Division I varsity program in 2024, marking an exciting new chapter.
NCR and Rugbee.co are proud to recognize Carrick Pell as November’s Coach of the Month. Pell is the head coach of the Babson College Men’s Rugby Team and started coaching the team in 2012.
Pell’s rugby journey started as a player in 1997 with the Birmingham Vulcans. From there, he has co-founded three rugby clubs; Jacksonville State University Rugby, Gypsy Rugby Club, and Boston 13s. Pell has also played for New Haven D1, Mystic River D1, Boston Irish Wolfhounds, and various select teams, including Texas Selects, USAF Selects, NERFU Selects, and Northeast Selects. Throughout his playing career, Pell has also coached several teams and is a United States Marine Corp Recon veteran and United States Air Force veteran.
Nominated by his players at Babson College, they hold the utmost respect for their coach. “As the son of an SEC football coaching legend, a former recon marine, near-olympian cyclist, and member of a men’s rugby national championship team, Carrick brings discipline and experience to every aspect of the game. From mindset to physical preparation and performance, to analysis and education, Coach has instilled an attitude of responsibility and commitment with an attention to detail. ”
Pell’s Babson College team is fresh from a Small College XVs National Championship during the recent championship weekend in Houston, TX, which adds to the team’s 2023 National 7s Championship this past April. In addition to the team’s postseason success, Pell also has helped to organize and manage spring break training trips to Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. During their trip to St. Thomas in 2019, the team aided in hurricane recovery.
A player from Pell’s team added “It's not just philosophic though, he puts in the time and sweat equity to make things happen and leads by example. He loves coaching and is committed to helping the team accomplish their goals. Beyond rugby though, Carrick is committed to developing young men to become leaders – at home, at work, in the community and in life.”
NCR and Rugbee.co are proud to recognize Sarah Price as October’s Coach of the Month. Price is the head coach of the Coast Guard Academy Women’s Rugby Team. Price started coaching the team in 2018 as an assistant coach and took over as the head coach in the fall of 2022.
Price started playing rugby at the University of Michigan and played with the Midwest Select Sides. Once she graduated, Price took over as the head coach for the women’s rugby team. Work took her away from rugby for a few years, but once she landed at the Coast Guard Academy as a visiting faculty member, she was eager to get back into rugby.
Players from the Coast Guard Academy Women’s Rugby Team have nothing but respect for their coach. “She goes out of her way to be a supportive coach, on and off the field, even though she's a very high ranking official within the school and is very busy. She is very willing to help with recommendation letters, flexible about missing practices and games, and just wants us to be the best we can be on and off the field.”
The Coast Guard Academy Women’s Rugby Team has been first in the NEWCRC for the past four years. The team has just qualified for the National XVs Semifinals on December 2 in Houston, TX.
NCR and Rugbee.co are proud to recognize Philip Payne as September’s Coach of the Month. Payne is the head coach of the Ohio Wesleyan University's Women's and Men's Rugby teams. He is in his third year with the program, and has enjoyed teaching the game and building up the club.
In the spring of 2023, the Ohio Wesleyan Women's sevens team finished sixth in the country at the Collegiate Rugby Championship. Payne previously spent three seasons as the Head Coach for the Columbus Men's (Scioto Valley) Division 1 Premiership side. He also coached for ten years as the Head Coach for The Ohio State University Women's team, and five years as an Assistant Coach for the Ohio State University Men's team, where he learned from Tom Rooney and Dan Porter.
Coach Payne spent two years as the Forwards Coach for the Midwest Men's Collegiate Thunderbirds, where he learned from Sopa Enari and Simon Bidmead. He also coached the Ohio U19 Girls High School and Ohio Collegiate Men's All-Stars.
Players from the Ohio Wesleyan University Women’s team have nothing but praise for their coach. “Coach Payne has helped rebuild our club from four people during the pandemic to over twenty. He strives to make every mistake a learning opportunity and wants rugby practice to be our favorite part of the week.”
“Besides his coaching, we also had seven Scholastic All Americans which shows he supports us in all aspects of life, not just on the pitch.”
Payne started playing rugby in 1984 for South Pittsburgh, and went on to play at Baldwin-Wallace University. He is married to Carol Payne, and they have one daughter, Cosette, who is a high school senior.
