ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Aug. 16) – Central Washington University Women's Rugby Head Coach
Mel Denham has resigned to take the women's rugby head coach post at Harvard University.
"Central Washington is a special place, and I have enjoyed my time here. I appreciate the opportunities I have been given, and I thank the department and leadership for their commitment to NCAA collegiate rugby and advancing the game," Denham said. "I am grateful to have worked with such amazing student-athletes and their families. I cannot thank the student-athletes, staff and community enough for their constant support, and for believing in our vision to become leaders in varsity rugby. The most important thing to me now is for the program to continue to grow and improve from here, which I am confident it will. We have unlocked the potential of college rugby on the West Coast, and I hope we have inspired other programs to consider elevating."
Denham led the Wildcats to a third place finish in the USA Rugby National Sevens Championships this past season and landed five players on the USA Rugby's WJAA National Team. She has led the Wildcats to three national championship appearances in her three seasons at the helm.
In the Wildcats' first full season as a varsity program, Denham guided Central to both the USA Division I 15's and the USA Rugby Collegiate 7's National Championship matches, placing second in both.
"We want to thank Mel for helping to elevate our club to a varsity program," Dennis Francois, CWU director of athletics, said. "She has done an outstanding job taking our program to new heights and turning it into one of the best programs in the nation. We certainly wish her the best of luck at Harvard."
An immediate search will begin for a new head coach.
