Get to know the Coaches

With the season just under way we wanted to give a little spotlight to all of our coaches so you can know a little bit about them!  

We also get a lot of help throughout the season from many of men's players, which is really awesome because it gives the kids plenty of people to learn from, watch and ask questions to.  We are one big club and family and everyone helps out in some way during the season!

Girl's Head Coach: Samantha Miller

Coaching Experience: 2011-present Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach 
                         2014 Head Coach Davis High School Girl's Rugby

                         2015-present Head Coach Vacaville Blackdog Girl's

                         2015 Master's degree in Coaching and Athletic Admin.

Playing Experience: 2009-11 Colorado Mesa University, ranked top 10

                              2010-11 West U23 Regional All-Star Team

                              2011 Division 2 All-American

                              2014-present Berkeley All Blues

Fun Fact: Originally from Colorado... but hates the snow, although does enjoy urban sledding (sleds pulled by a car).

Girl's Assistant Coach: Jordan Vermette
Coaching Experience: 2014-present Assistant Coach Vacaville Blackdog Girl's

Playing Experience: 2012-15 high school rugby at Davis High School
                             Will be playing at UCD next fall

Fun Fact: She has swam from Alcatraz 3 times! And she loves making cupcakes, especially during finals week.

Girl's Assistant Coach: Zach Post
Coaching Experience: 2014-present Assistant Coach Vacaville Blackdog Girl's

Playing Experience: 2003-07 Vacaville Blackdog Rugby (started in 8th grade)
10 years and counting for Vacaville Rugby Men's Club

Fun Fact: Used to get his hair in cornrows before games, and people would tend to pick on him a lot in games. He cut his hair, and he doesn't get picked on so much anymore.

Boy's Head Coach: Brett Fortney

Coaching Experience: 2012-14 Assistant Coach Vacaville Blackdog Rugby

2015-present Head Coach Vacaville Blackdog Rugby

Playing Experience: 2007 Vacaville Blackdog Rugby 

                             2007-11 at Chico State, nationally ranked top 25

                   6 years and counting for Vacaville Rugby Men's Club

Fun Fact: At the time, only known Chico State player to actually get the Chico rugby logo (CSR) tattooed on him during the Rookie Scavenger Hunt.

Boy's Assistant Coach: Matt Hensley

Coaching Experience: 2012-present Assistant Coach Vacaville Blackdog Rugby

Playing Experience: 2002-06 Vacaville Blackdog Rugby

                          2006-10 St. Mary's College, nationally ranked top 10

                          2010 Brother's Rugby Club, Australia

                11 years and counting for Vacaville Rugby Men's Club

Fun Fact: He wears the same t-shirt before every game while warming up.  And he LOVES Baldo's burritos.

Boy's Assistant Coach: Zane Miller

Coaching Experience: 2016 Assistant Coach Vacaville Blackdog Rugby

Playing Experience: 1 year at Univ. of Alabama
                             1 year at Diablo
                             2 years at Univ. of San Francisco 
                             First year with Vacaville Men's Club 
Fun Fact: Once jumped onto a moving Taco Truck in Humboldt.