Summary
Overview
Work History
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
LANGUAGE
Timeline
Generic
TAYLOR HOWDEN

TAYLOR HOWDEN

New Orleans,USA

Summary

Current MLR Assistant Coach and former professional player with 8 years of playing experience and over 13 years of coaching success across all levels of American rugby. I bring a deep understanding of the USA Rugby landscape, high-performance environments, and the unique demands of the Sevens game. I am known for building teams with strong cultures, technical & tactical intelligence and relentless competitiveness. I am fully committed to helping USA 7s rise to a level capable of beating top nations.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Assistant Coach

NOLA Gold Rugby MLR
01.2021 - Current
  • Specializing in backs & attack. Key roles include - scrum attack/defence, middle/edge attack, 22m entry attack, structures/systems & maximizing scoring potential.
  • Adapted & implemented new NOLA Gold attack strategies propelling them into playoffs for the first time.
  • Scored average of 6.8 out of 8 in end of '25 season survey, most dominant score on entire coaching staff.

Head Coach

Heat Rugby 7s (formerly Tel Aviv Heat)
08.2022 - Current
  • Exclusively coaching at RugbyTown 7s 2022-current
  • Worked with former Olympians Semi Kunatani & Emosi Mulevoro.

Assistant Coach

OSU Buckeyes
01.2021 - Current
  • 4th year assistant at OSU Rugby. Backs & attack focused coach. Key roles include - team attack systems, scrum attack/defence, exit strategies & full team skills
  • Big 10 Champions in 2021 & 2024. Finalist in '22 & '23

Head Coach 15s & 7s

Columbus Rugby Club
06.2022 - Current
  • Additional to the grass coaching I undertook further responsibility with the club.
  • Took the club from back to back winless seasons to go 3 seasons with winning record above .750.
  • Drove player participation levels from single digits to highest number of CIPPed registered players in the last decade.
  • Established improved sponsorship & partnerships with local stakeholders
  • . Implemented successful fundraising plans to put the club in a strong position moving forward.

Academy Director

Tiger Rugby 7s
01.2014 - 01.2018
  • Growth & development lead of Olympic Development Academy. Coordinated & planned daily/weekly training sessions for athletes in rugby. Managed 60+ athletes per week with focus on improving their skills, rugby IQ, technical & tactical knowledge and holisitic components; most notably eventual 2x World 7s POY, Perry Baker.

Head Coach

Denver Barbarians
01.2010 - 01.2015
  • Head Coach of Pacific Rugby Premiership & Division 1 Mens rugby club. 2nd in the nation.

Skills

  • Strategic Planning - organized & adept in building rugby teams
  • Excellent communicator - written & verbal, active listener
  • Hudl/Sportscode - preview/review/team & opposition analysis
  • Video Coding - intermediate level (Sportscode)
  • Recruitment - talent ID/scouting, tracking & development
  • Leadership - collaboration & conflict resolution
  • Game Strategy Planning - pre season, in season & offseason Where/why/how to defeat opponents
  • Computer competent - Presentations (Keynote, PowerPoint)
  • Understands cultures & how to grow them - standards based behavior
  • Adaptable to changing situations - resilient and creative when resources are compromised

Accomplishments

  • USA Hawks NA4 Squad - 2008
  • USA Club 7s National Champion(Belmont Shore) - 2012
  • Gold Medal - USA Maccabi Rugby Team - 2013
  • 15s Bronze Medal - USA Maccabi Rugby Team - 2013
  • USA Rugby Division 1 finalist(Denver Barbarians) - 2013
  • USA Tomahawks Rugby League debut - 2015
  • PRO Rugby Ohio Aviators - 2016
  • First captain of NOLA Gold MLR - 2016
  • First person in MLR to accrue over 120 games as a player & coach in MLR(130 total matches a part of) - 2018-current

Certification

  • USA Rugby Level 200
  • World Rugby - Rugby Ready
  • World Rugby - Concussion Management
  • World Rugby - Keep Rugby Onside
  • World Rugby - Keep Rugby Clean

LANGUAGE

English
Samoan

Timeline

Head Coach

Heat Rugby 7s (formerly Tel Aviv Heat)
08.2022 - Current

Head Coach 15s & 7s

Columbus Rugby Club
06.2022 - Current

Assistant Coach

NOLA Gold Rugby MLR
01.2021 - Current

Assistant Coach

OSU Buckeyes
01.2021 - Current

Academy Director

Tiger Rugby 7s
01.2014 - 01.2018

Head Coach

Denver Barbarians
01.2010 - 01.2015

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
TAYLOR HOWDEN