HAMILTON, NY- Colgate University Rugby Football Club undergoes a change in coaching staff after long-time Coach, Timothy Burdick, moved on from the program. Coach Burdick oversaw the Rugby Football Club for eight years, taking them from a 17-student roster, Division III team to a highly competitive team in USA Rugby Division II with over 60 students on the roster, two back-to-back National Tournament Round of Eight appearances and four international tours. The students and alumni have expressed a sincere appreciation for all that Coach Burdick has done for the program and wish him the best of luck in his new endeavors.
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Stepping in as Interim Head Coach for the 2013-2014 season is David Chapman as Colgate searches for a permanent coach. Coach Chapman holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Exercise Science from Ole’ Miss and five years of coaching experience. As a collegiate player, David enjoyed many successes, including two trips to the South Championships, four select side selections for TU the Deep South and an alternate selection for LAU the South Region. When David’s eligibility was finished, he was asked to take over the club as head coach. Under Coach Chapman’s leadership the Ole Miss Rugby Club made it to the post-season four out of the five years. During the 2012/2013 season, the team made it to the SCRC Championship weekend where they would eventually lose to Tennessee, the #20 team in the nation, 36-32.
Coach Chapman comes to Hamilton with his wife, Vera, who is the Associate Director of Career Development at Colgate. They are expecting their first-born son in mid-October.
Coach Chapman has the squad off to a great start for the season, with over 80 players attending the season’s first practices on Colgate’s Academy Field. After a preseason scrimmage with a visiting side from SUNY Binghamton, senior Captain Raman Malik ’14 reported that “The team looked great and we’re excited to work together as we take Colgate Rugby to the next level.” In the second half of the match, with most of the starters on the sidelines, scrum captain Cam Borriello ’14 commented that “it was great to see how our less experienced players handled a team like Binghamton; they showed some great stuff.” The team looks forward to continued success with Coach Chapman on their run to this year’s fall DII playoffs.
Colgate Rugby is also pleased to announce the formation of an advisory board, the “Colgate Rugby Alumni Association” this fall, composed of alumni, parents, and a Colgate athletics development representative. The CRAA will provide alumni input to help Colgate continue developing its men’s and women’s rugby programs, and develop short- and long-term goals in supporting the clubs and players in their endeavors on-campus and around the world.
For more information on Colgate men’s and women’s rugby, please visit our new website at www.colgaterugby.com!
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