CLEMSON RUGBY COACHING STAFF
Justin Hickey - Head Coach
Justin Hickey is in his third year as head coach for the Clemson Rugby program. Prior to Hickey's arrival at Clemson, the Tigers struggled to a 1-5 record in the Carolinas League, in 2010. In 2011, his first season, the Tigers showed immediate improvement, posting a 4-2 record in the newly formed Atlantic Coast Rugby League (ACRL). In 2012, the Tigers made a serious run at a league championship, narrowly missing out, while posting a 6-1 ACRL record and a record of 9-1 overall.
Coach Hickey began his playing career in 1998, at Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where the cougars enjoyed the success of a state championship in the program’s first year. Hickey continued his career at Central Michigan University, where he represented and captained the Midwest Champion Michigan Collegiate Select Side on a number of occasions and competed in the National College All Star Championships in 2003 with the Midwest Collegiate Thunderbirds.
Upon conclusion of his college playing career, Hickey played senior men’s rugby around the Midwest as well as a stint in the UK for National Division 2 Halifax RUFC. During his time stateside, Hickey competed with the Detroit Tradesmen (D1), the Grand Rapids Gazelles (D1), and the Chicago Griffins (RSL). From 2004-2009 Hickey enjoyed the success of 3 appearances in the USA Rugby Round of 16 (15s) and 2 appearances in the USA Rugby Round of 16 (7s), as well as 4 appearances for the Midwest Thunderbird 15s and 3 appearances for the Midwest Thunderbird 7s.
Hickey began his coaching career where his playing career started, as Asst. Coach at Catholic Central High School. From there, Hickey was involved in starting the Davenport University Varsity Rugby team in Grand Rapids, in 2009, which went on to win the 2011 & 2012 USA Rugby Division 1AA National Championship. Hickey was hired in January 2011, as the Head Coach at Clemson, and also served as Assistant Coach/Manager for the USA Rugby High School All American 7s Team, which toured to Bristish Columbia in 2011. Hickey also served one term as Manager of the USA Rugby High School All Americans from 2009-2010. Hickey worked for 2 years as Manager for the USA Rugby U20 Junior All American Team which competed in the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in T'Bilisi, Georgia in 2011, and won the competition in Salt Lake City, UT in June 2012, earning the USA U20s promotion to the IRB Junior World Championship competition in 2013. Hickey, his wife Sarah and their daughter Payton (4 months), live in Clemson where he is a 2nd year PhD student in Educational Leadership.
Coach Hickey began his playing career in 1998, at Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where the cougars enjoyed the success of a state championship in the program’s first year. Hickey continued his career at Central Michigan University, where he represented and captained the Midwest Champion Michigan Collegiate Select Side on a number of occasions and competed in the National College All Star Championships in 2003 with the Midwest Collegiate Thunderbirds.
Upon conclusion of his college playing career, Hickey played senior men’s rugby around the Midwest as well as a stint in the UK for National Division 2 Halifax RUFC. During his time stateside, Hickey competed with the Detroit Tradesmen (D1), the Grand Rapids Gazelles (D1), and the Chicago Griffins (RSL). From 2004-2009 Hickey enjoyed the success of 3 appearances in the USA Rugby Round of 16 (15s) and 2 appearances in the USA Rugby Round of 16 (7s), as well as 4 appearances for the Midwest Thunderbird 15s and 3 appearances for the Midwest Thunderbird 7s.
Hickey began his coaching career where his playing career started, as Asst. Coach at Catholic Central High School. From there, Hickey was involved in starting the Davenport University Varsity Rugby team in Grand Rapids, in 2009, which went on to win the 2011 & 2012 USA Rugby Division 1AA National Championship. Hickey was hired in January 2011, as the Head Coach at Clemson, and also served as Assistant Coach/Manager for the USA Rugby High School All American 7s Team, which toured to Bristish Columbia in 2011. Hickey also served one term as Manager of the USA Rugby High School All Americans from 2009-2010. Hickey worked for 2 years as Manager for the USA Rugby U20 Junior All American Team which competed in the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in T'Bilisi, Georgia in 2011, and won the competition in Salt Lake City, UT in June 2012, earning the USA U20s promotion to the IRB Junior World Championship competition in 2013. Hickey, his wife Sarah and their daughter Payton (4 months), live in Clemson where he is a 2nd year PhD student in Educational Leadership.
Wright Henry - Assistant Coach
