Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO — After nearly three decades of continuity, the BYU men’s rugby program announced a new chapter Friday afternoon.
Former Cougar rugby player Steven St. Pierre was named the head coach of the five-time national champion Cougars, the university announced Friday. St. Pierre, who played for the Cougars from 2005-09 and helped capture the school’s first national title, replaces former head coach David Smyth — who is now an assistant coach at Utah Valley University.
"The BYU rugby team is a program that has had a huge impact on my life," said St. Pierre, who also served as an assistant coach with the program from 2012-2017. "I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to continue the great work that has been done by the previous coaching staff and to start working with the players towards a successful season."
Under Smyth, the Cougars won national titles in 2009 and from 2012-15 before leaving the Varsity Cup competition one year before it folded. Smyth announced his departure along with longtime Cougar assistant coach Wayne Tarawhiti amid controversy, citing a difference of opinions with the school’s Student Life department that oversees the rugby program.
Like all non-varsity sports at BYU, the Cougar rugby team is a club program supported by the university’s Office of Student Life and Extramural Sports program. The department also includes men’s and women’s lacrosse, women’s rugby and ultimate frisbee, among other sports.
BYU has hired former player and former assistant coach Steven St. Pierre as the new head coach of the men’s rugby team.https://t.co/UvFFECLg9q
— BYU (@BYU) August 10, 2018
St. Pierre earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s of accounting program form BYU’s Marriott School of Business in 2010. A certified public accountant, he has worked as a tax manager for BDO.
"Steve is a great representative of the type of young men the BYU rugby program has produced over the years," assistant dean of students Jim Slaughter said in a statement from the school. "We look forward to the future of BYU rugby and express deep gratitude for our former coaches and their invaluable contributions to the building of this program."
