1991

FORMER JMU RUGBY PLAYER MIKE COYNER WAS APPOINTED HEAD COACH OF USA RUGBY'S NATIONAL 7S TEAM. Coyner was the backs coach at the United States Air Force Academy for the past three seasons. His team won the 2003 National Collegiate Championship, and he also served as backs coach for the 2003 All-Americans on their tour of New Zealand. In 2003, Coyner coached the Combined Services Team at the National All-Star 7s Competition. He has played for the Norfolk Blues RFC, Washington, DC RFC, the Fairbanks (Alaska) Sundawgs and the Denver Barbarians. "My goal is to continue to build a world-class 7s program," says Coyner. "There's a lot of work to do and a lot to learn." Coyner captained the Washington, D.C., 7s team to the National Championships in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and captained the Denver Barbarians 7s to the Cup Finals in 2001 and a Plate Championship in 2002. The 2004 season started off with a bang for the U.S. 7s team as USA Rugby hosted its first-ever International Rugby Board World Series 7s tournament in Los Angeles in February. USA Rugby, founded in 1975, is the national governing body for rugby and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the IRB.