Women’s head Coach Flores Retires
For Immediate Release
October 19, 2010
WNT Coach Flores Retires
BOULDER, Colo. – Kathy Flores, USA Rugby’s Women’s National Team Head Coach, has announced that she is stepping down from her position at the end of 2010, after eight years at the helm. USA Rugby is honored to have had the leadership and vision of Coach Flores over the course of a successful tenure with the Women’s National Team.
Flores earned the position following the 2002 World Cup, in which the USA dropped five spots to 7th place. She brought experience as an international athlete – Flores was a member of the victorious 1991 World Cup squad – as well as an unparalleled record as a club coach, leading the Berkeley All-Blues to a remarkable ten National Championships as Head Coach, including a run of nine consecutive titles.
Flores’ accomplishments have garnered her worldwide respect. She received numerous accolades during her tenure, including the 2000 Coach of the Year (rugbyrugby.com), the 2003 iRB Women’s Personality of the Year, and the 2004 Women’s Sports Foundation Coach of the Year. She remains the only female Head Coach at any Women’s Rugby World Cup and retains the distinction of leading the Eagles through two consecutive World Cup campaigns.
In 2006, Flores led the USA to a two-step jump in the standings; with a 4-1 showing and a 5th place World Cup finish. The 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup saw massive improvements in women’s rugby across-the-board, and Flores’ Eagles went 3-2 to retain 5th place. Her final match as coach was a thrilling victory over Canada, the Eagles’ fiercest rival, in the World Cup.
“I’ve had the rare honor to not only represent my country as a player but also to have the opportunity to coach USA’s elite players on the international stage. I could not have done it without the help of an experienced and competent team of assistant coaches and medical and management staff.” commented Flores.
“My two terms as Eagles Head Coach have seen us pushing to get into the top four [teams in the world] and I have no doubt we are headed in the right direction. Like the coaches before me, I am proud to have been a part of such a tremendous and evolving program and look forward to staying involved as the USA Women work to be the best in the world.”
While stepping down as Head Coach, Flores will continue to contribute her skills and experience to USA Rugby by supporting athlete identification and development programs throughout the Women’s High Performance Pathway.
USA Rugby would like to thank Coach Flores for her great contributions to the Women’s National Team over the last eight years.
“Kathy has been a great servant of USA Rugby, both as a player and a coach,” says Nigel Melville, USA Rugby CEO and President of Rugby Operations. “She has been responsible for many of the significant developments in women’s rugby in the US and has developed top-level international players.”
USA Rugby will immediately begin accepting applications for the position of Women’s National Team Head Coach for 2011.
In order to apply for the WNT Head Coach position, interested parties should review the job description by visiting: http://usngbjobs.teamworkonline.com/teamwork/r.cfm?i=32097.
Inquiries should be directed to Women’s High Performance Director, Alex Williams awilliams@usarugby.org.
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