Norman Okla. - The University of Oklahoma Men’s Collegiate Rugby Program has announced the appointment of Doug Neubauer as its new Head Coach to continue the development of its high-performance program and its competition with the top programs in the country.
 

Oklahoma has a long history of success in the program’s 40 years on campus with numerous conference and regional championships, tournament championships, post-season competitions, All-Americans, National Team players and coaches appointed to National posts. 
 

The appointment, according to Dr. Alan Velie, the team’s faculty sponsor and founder states: “We are very excited to have Doug return to Oklahoma Rugby. Coach Neubauer focus is on the continued development of the elite rugby program at OU.  Doug was OU’s first three-time All American and played in the All-American’s first international match since winning the Gold Medal in 1924 Olympic Games. We were very proud when Doug received notoriety from Rugby Magazine as delivering the biggest hit of match in the US 38-0 victory over Holland in 1987.” 
 

Neubauer is an excellent example of a successful rugby crossover athlete. He started as a member of Oklahoma’s prestigious wrestling program and understands the rigors of the elite student-athlete. His success as a rugby player led him to two USA Rugby Club Final Four appearances with the Dallas Harlequins, selection to the West select side, and  trials with the USA team. He played the prop, lock, flanker, and No. 8 in his career, and took up coaching after a stint playing in Australia.

 

Neubauer has a history as a program builder, founding the Alliance Rugby Club in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro area and the Florida International University Rugby Club. He has served as the Head Coach of Texas Collegiate All-Stars, Texas U17 All-Stars, Florida Collegiate All-Stars, Miami Tridents, Dallas Reds, and Alliance Rugby Club. Neubauer led the Dallas Reds to the 2013 Division I Club Final Four Championships and the 1993 National Seven’s Rugby Club Championships. His Alliance teams won the Texas High School State Championship in 2007, 2009 and 2011 and he was named Texas High School Club Coach of the Year in 2010.

John Lynd, has accepted the post as Forwards Coach to join current Forwards Coach Corey Ringhisen. Lynd is a former captain of Oklahoma Rugby as a student-athlete and a 1990 All-American. “Hoss” enjoyed very similar success to Neubauer as a Final Four participant with the Dallas Harlequins, a West RFU select-side player, and a USA National Team trialist. He also toured New Zealand and Canada to play all-star rugby. 

Lynd has also had a successful tenure as the Forwards Coach of the Gentlemen of Allen High School Rugby Team, leading it to the Texas State Championships and developing numerous players to university and elite levels.  

Also joining the staff is Jake Mizell. Jake played under Neubauer on Alliance’s 2008-2009 Texas High School Championship team before attending Arkansas State University, where he was a five-year starter on its nationally-ranked teams from 2009-2014.  Jake garnered Honorable Mention All-American honors in 2010 and was capped by the USA in 7s. Mizell directed recruiting in Texas for Arkansas State and will serve Oklahoma well in that role. 

Remaining as Backs Coach is Michael Black, who graduated Oklahoma this year with a BS in Non-Profit Management, and has worked on the last three staffs for the Sooners. Black was part of the 2012 Collegiate Rugby Championship Staff and helped the team attain its current undefeated record and win two straight Conference Championships. 
 

Oklahoma will conduct a combine at Oklahoma’s state-of-the-art Everett Indoor Training Facility on Thursday, January 15 to continue to build its squad.
 

The Sooners first event will be the Las Vegas Invitational in February, as they enter the Collegiate Rugby Championships (CRC) Invitational qualification bracket. The Sooners have qualified for the USA Rugby National DIA playoffs after clinching the Red River Conference, and are competing in the Varsity Cup tournament.