Our staff blends decades of elite coaching, sports science, performance analysis, and athletic medicine — built around a single goal: developing world-class women's rugby players.
Rys leads Life University Women's Rugby as Director of Women's Rugby. Since taking the helm in August 2022, he has transformed the Running Eagles into the most dominant force in U.S. collegiate women's rugby — culminating in a historic Triple Crown in 2025/26: the CRAA Division I XVs National Championship (40-14 over BYU), the CRAA Premier 7s National Championship (17-12 over Lindenwood in overtime), and the USA Rugby Division I Club 15s National Championship. His teams have built one of the most consistent winning records in the women's game — approximately 87% over four-plus years of CRAA and NIRA competition, including a near-perfect 18-0 XVs season in 2025/26.
A World Rugby Level 3 qualified coach and licensed World Rugby Coach Educator, Chadwick brings over 15 years of elite-level experience to the program. His career spans international, professional, collegiate, and youth coaching — including Defense Coach for Rugby ATL in Major League Rugby (Fire & Ice Cup winners, 2023), Director of Performance & Development at the American Rugby Pro Training Center, and Executive Director of the Northeast Academy. He is also Founder & CEO of The Rugby Advantage, Women's D1 Elite Commissioner for CRAA, and a member of CRAA's College Council Committee. He holds an MSc in Coaching Science from Hartpury College and a BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching.
Beyond on-field results, Chadwick has rebuilt every layer of the program. Under his leadership, the team's collective GPA has climbed from 2.82 to 3.36 — a 19.4% improvement reflecting his demand for academic excellence alongside on-field dominance. He has reduced annual injury counts by 69% (39 in 2022/23 → 12 in 2024/25) through integrated strength & conditioning, recovery, and medical protocols, with zero surgeries required in 2024/25. The program now produces 10-12 USA All-Americans every season, and has built a pathway pipeline placing players into USA Rugby 7s, 15s, USA Falcons, U23, U20 and U18 national squads — five players currently hold WER (Women's Elite Rugby) professional contracts.
His coaching is guided by the B.R.A.V.E. philosophy — Bold, Relentless, Accurate, Versatile, Excellent — and prioritises the human development behind every player. Hands-on, chaotic, game-replicating training is paired with 1-1 mentoring, video analysis, and individualised feedback. The program he is building is a rugby factory — built to win national championships, develop international players, and prepare student-athletes for life beyond the pitch.
A former Canadian international with 38 test caps and a 2019 Rugby World Cup appearance, Matt brings a wealth of elite playing, coaching, and performance experience to our program. His passion for athlete development, defensive excellence, and creating high performance environments will be a tremendous asset as we prepare for the upcoming season.
A powerhouse Strength and Conditioning Coach with over 12 years of experience transforming athletes across diverse sports and competitive levels. Master's in Kinesiology from Auburn University. Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA-CSCS), Corrective Exercise Specialist (NASM-CES), and Behavior Change Specialist (NASM-BCS).
Prior to joining Life U she honed her craft with Auburn University's Softball team, driving the performance of elite NCAA athletes to new heights. A former two-time First Team All-American and 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year finalist — she knows what it takes to compete at the top.
Her coaching fuses cutting-edge exercise physiology with practical strategies, focusing on performance optimisation, injury prevention, and rehabilitation. A science-driven, athlete-centered approach that ensures every player thrives in a world-class training environment.
Supports the squad's strength, conditioning and athletic-development programme, working alongside the Head of Athletic Performance to keep players fit, fast and durable across a demanding season.
A hands-on presence on the training floor and the field, she helps athletes build the physical foundation — power, speed and resilience — to compete at the top of collegiate rugby.
Brings a strong foundation of performance analysis and rugby-specific support to the program. His journey in the sport includes experience as a student-athlete and video analyst at the University of North Texas (2019–2020).
He served the Dallas Harlequins (2020–2024) as a Video and Stats Analyst, and the Dallas Jackals (2022–2024) as both Performance Analyst and Assistant Team Manager. Most recently he contributed his skills to the USA U19 Rugby Americas North side in 2025.
A dynamic Certified Athletic Trainer with over five years of experience fuelling athlete success. A 2020 graduate of Towson University with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training, Kevin has devoted his career to optimising athlete health, recovery, and peak performance.
Four years at Life University — including roles as full-time Athletic Trainer and Graduate Assistant. Three and a half years embedded with the Women's Rugby program, delivering exceptional injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation tailored to the demands of elite rugby.
Advanced certifications: Dry Needling Level I, Graston Technique M1, Sports Massage, Blood Flow Restriction Level 1. Kevin blends cutting-edge, evidence-based techniques with an unwavering passion for athlete well-being.
Operations Manager for the Life University Women's Rugby program. A former Life U player and current member of the USA national team pathway pool, Autumn brings player-side perspective and rigorous operational organisation to every detail of the program — from logistics and travel to player support and gameday coordination.
Joined Life University as Campus Dietitian and Assistant Professor in August 2021. A Certified Sports Specialist Dietitian (CSSD) currently working with every athletic team at Life University.
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Georgia. Dietetic Internship at Vanderbilt University. Master's degree from Georgia State University in Exercise Physiology. Over 25 years of experience working with athletes in both collegiate and professional settings.
Apply today, or contact Director of Women's Rugby Ryszard Chadwick directly to learn more about joining the program.
