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By Riley Ferguson
It all started with just a whisper to President Dan Elsener from Marian University graduate Brian Sweany ‘95. Sweany recommended that since Rugby is growing at such a rapid rate, that Marian look into forming a varsity rugby team. Many conversations transpired into how this would promote Marian along with giving interested student athletes the ability to play a new sport at the school.
Marian University ultimately hired Coach John Harley to lead the path in forming an outstanding varsity rugby team at Marian. Coach Harley comes from Fishers, Indiana where he was a head coach for their youth rugby program. Coach Harley, along with his wife Heather, has spent months figuring out how to successfully implement a new sport at Marian. Their hard work and determination were efficacious in the preparation of the first season of the sport.
Harley said that the team will start at the Division II level. Practice started this semester instead of last semester because of COVID-19 policies, but they believe that this team is destined for championships. He plans to measure success of the program by “climbing the ladder to a Division I spot and hopefully winning a couple national championships along the way.” Harley also pointed out that since Marian is centrally located in the country, it will give them the opportunity to travel and get Marian’s name out there. Harley also mentioned rugby offers an advertisement opportunity for Marian because it is televised.
Harley has done an outstanding job at recruiting players around the world. Jacob Carroll from London, England, is a freshman at Marian. Carrol was recruited by Coach Harley and he is so excited about this season. Carroll said that he did not know Marian University existed prior to being reached out to by Coach Harley, but that he is happy to be a part of such an amazing school and rugby program. Carroll said that he knows that Marian’s rugby program is going to thrive because of how exceptional practicing is going. Carroll has been playing rugby for 12 years, so he has seen how many programs are run and how they can excel. Carroll said that he has no doubt in Marian’s rugby program and that he is so excited to see how the team will perform.
Over 800 rugby clubs exist in the United States, but only 32 of those are varsity teams that give out athletic scholarships. Marian is one of those 32 varsity teams. Coach Harley said that once he gets everything the way he wants it to be, that he has plans to eventually partner with other collegiate rugby programs. So much hard work and dedication have gone into making sure that the team will prosper. The team brings excitement to this campus in the next era of Marian athletics.
