After Curtis resignation, women's rugby searches for new coach

The women's rugby team arrived on campus with its sight set on a national championship, yet it soon found that this season would test not only its physical ability but also its mental toughness.

Long-time coach Alex Curtis GS '98, who had led the team to two national championships since he began coaching the Tigers in 1993, resigned as head coach in the spring to take the position of Director of Admissions at the Princeton Day School.

Thus, as the Tigers concentrates on practices and their fall schedule, they must also concentrate on the task of finding a coach. Until they do, they will have to focus on disciplining themselves.

"We've been coaching ourselves. We're looking more towards the spring, and given our goals as a team, we'd like to have a coach by the end of the fall," said senior captain Sarah Apgar.

As the search for a coach continues, Apgar and senior Laura Miller — the other captain — have taken over the coaching responsibilities, which include organizing practices and teaching the players, both veterans and rookies.

Having these two players serve as coaches has "caused everyone to step it up this year," junior Candace Hamilton said.

Hamilton said it is challenging to remain focused and stay committed to the team while there isn't a coach to keep everyone in line. While most of the athletes on the team have shown this dedication, some have not.

"Some people have tried to take advantage of the situation," Hamilton said.

The team has formed a committee to oversee the hiring of a new coach. However, being a club team, the Tigers are initially concentrating their efforts locally, as they do not have the funding to hire a coach from outside the area.

The committee has generated a short list of possible coaches, one of whom is Dave Hancock from South Africa. Hancock hopes to attend business school in the Princeton area and has both coaching and playing experience. Apgar referred to him as "a great possibility."

The Tigers are also looking into two graduate students with rugby playing experience, including Ben McNeil, a postdoctoral student from Australia.

The team will conduct a larger national search in the next couple of months before reaching a final decision on a coach.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

"It is more important to be consistent. We would be willing to go into the spring season without a coach," Hamilton said.

While the two senior captains have been able to take over the organizational aspects of coaching, there are areas where the team has been forced to work together in order to achieve a common goal.

"Sarah and I have had to recognize our limitations as coaches, since we don't have the experience," Miller said.

The coaching situation has definitely been a change for the Tigers, yet there have been benefits and rewards.

"Laura and Sarah are more understanding than a coach would be. If someone is sick, they can understand missing practice. Yet, they don't play the same position as me, so they cannot comment like a coach," Hamilton said.

The Tigers have decided to continue coaching themselves until a permanent replacement for Curtis has been found. They have ruled out the possibility of an interim coach, as the players have responded well to this early-season adversity.

"We don't want to jump into anything. The team is fine with practice the way it is right now, so we're looking towards the future," Apgar said.

If the past is any indication for the Tigers, then the future will be very bright — coach or no coach.