FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Joe is originally from Wisconsin and currently resides in Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he is a full time rugby coach and part-time instructor at Iowa Central Community College. He spent several years in the St Louis area coaching at Lindenwood-Belleville and McKendree Universities. During this time, Joe did several free clinics for Memphis Inner City Rugby, seeing the tremendous good that organization has done and continues to do in underserved communities. His experiences with MICR, conversations in the local rugby community and observations around the metro area planted seeds for Rug the Lou. Joe is passionate about mentoring young people and helping them make positive decisions. In his free time he enjoys hunting, reading and spending time with his super cool fiance and their two cats.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH

Grace is a St. Louis transplant originally from Wisconsin where she grew up playing all kinds of sports. She found her love of rugby in college at UW Madison where she went on to get degrees in child development and family studies and occupation therapy. Grace loves to bike, hike, and camp. Wherever you find her, Grace is passionate about sharing her love for rugby and supporting her neighbors and community members through genuine connection and finding common ground.

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING & CURRICULUM

Kyle originally hails from Southeast Missouri where he played 3 sports throughout high school. He loved rugby the most as it combined the different physicalities of football and soccer with the on the fly playstyle of basketball. He continued to play throughout his five years in the marines and while attending the University of Missouri St. Louis. Since moving to St. Louis, he has fallen in love with the diverse area. He currently teaches physical education in the Pattonville school district, coaches (high school, University City, or North County) boy’s rugby team, and is an assistant coach for the Missouri all-state rugby team. He’s found that some of the biggest impacts he’s been able to make with his student athletes is through hosting academic tutoring sessions with food provided. Kyle hopes to widen this impact of sport, academics, and feeding student athletes of all ages throughout the rest of the St. Louis area.