As the year approaches it's end, we have decided to give out our first annual This Is American Rugby Awards. Over the next few weeks we will be handing out awards to coaches, players, teams, and whatever we feel like. Of course our choices carry no prizes except for a feeling of accomplishment.
To start, we are selecting our Coach of the Year. There were several candidates for selection this year, some of them obvious and some of them controversial. Some of those coaches include Al Caravelli who has done a tremendous job at keeping the 7s program in a professional environment despite challenges. Former Eagles heach coach Eddie O'Sullivan also deserves a mention. Whether you agree with his style or not, the fact is he got the team to peak at the right moment and to play well in the World Cup. Others that could have been chosen include Womens 7s coach Ric Suggitt and 15s coach Pete Steinberg, who always do a good job with limited resources.
However, one candidate stood out in particular this year: Dartmouth and Men's All-American Coach Alex Magleby. Magleby has had a terrific year by anyone's standards. Things he and his team have won/accomplished this year include: Ivy 7s champions, CRC champions, and an undefeated fall season. Dartmouth has established himself as the team to beat in College 7s all thanks to Magleby's work.
That work with Dartmouth led to his appointment as head coach of the All-Americans 15s and 7s team. He led the AA's to a surprising 2-1 record against the New Zealand Universities last summer, including a 60-17 blowout. Magleby also led a terrific assembly of the AA 7s team. The AA's even finished atop their pool in the NASC.
Magleby has been an excellent recruiter over the years, bringing in unknown talent such as Chris and Nick Downer, as well as recruiting established talent like Eagle U-20 Madison Hughes. Magleby has established Dartmouth as not only a player and dominant team in the Ivy League but in the region as well.
For all of these accomplishment, Alex Magleby deserves to be TIAR's Coach of the Year. He is a coach to look out for in the future, someone with a plan and the drive to make his team rally around his vision. If the U.S. sees more coaches like Magleby, we would see rugby really accelerate in this country.
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