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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport University Athletic Department has announced that the school’s two rugby programs have named their head coaches.
Former DU assistant coach Justin Hickey will oversee the DI program while Isaac Herrick will lead the DII squad.
Once the school decided to split its team into two divisional squads, Director of Athletics Paul Lowden made the decision to keep Isaac Herrick as the head coach of the DII program while allowing former assistant Hickey to lead the DI program.
“It's exciting to be a part of the rapid growth of rugby in this country and here at DU,” said Hickey. “The success we had in year one was in no small part due to the efforts of Isaac Herrick and Ron Falk in launching the program with the support of the Athletic Department and University. I'm honored to lead an excellent staff and elite group of athletes into a bright future for Davenport Rugby.”
The DI program will compete in the Eastern Division against teams such as Purdue, Indiana, Bowling Green, Miami (OH) and Wisconsin.
Herrick will take a now more experienced DII squad in to competition against the likes of Michigan, Michigan State, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Grand Valley State, and Ferris State.
“The greatest thing I learned was what rugby can become with the proper structure and the support from the university,” said Herrick. “We were given an amazing amount of support by the athletic department at Davenport University, and our very successful first season is a byproduct of that. If every team had the support and structure that we have been provided, rugby growth would take off around the country.”
Both teams will have a chance to compete for a National Championship after not having that ability in the program’s first year in 2009-10.
“I am looking forward to the challenge of competing against the best of the best in the Midwest and the United States,” added Herrick. “Our players are up to the task. The main focus for the DII program this next fall is making sure we have the right attitude and mentality. We can't worry about what other teams are doing or what other teams think of us, or that we have a target on our back after a successful start last season. We haven't won anything yet, and we need to make sure we work hard and are focused on earning a championship.”
The teams are scheduled to arrive on campus in mid-August and will begin camp with their sights set on competition the first few weeks in September.
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