Head Coach MaryBeth Mathews has been coaching Bowdoin Women's
Rugby since 1994, after playing the sport at its inception in the
USA in 1976. She holds a Masters Degree in Higher Education and an
undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Southern
Maine. In addition to her coaching duties in Athletics, Mathews is
an Assistant Dean of First-Year Students.
Coach Mathews and her husband, Bob (Assistant Coach) enjoyed
stellar results in their first two undefeated seasons, capturing
two New England Division 2 Championships in 1994 and 1995. The D2
club team was elevated to Division 1 status for 4 years, having
early success against the likes of Dartmouth, UConn and Yale, then
graduated a class of 20 and dropped back to Division 2 in 2000
where they have remained a quality, high-performing team. They
field a competitive A-side and a developmental B-side. Winning
their third New England championship in 2006, Bowdoin advanced to
the Final Four of Collegiate Division 2 Nationals in Spring 2007,
losing in the semi-finals to eventual National Champion University
of California – Santa Cruz.
A native of northeastern Massachusetts, Mathews was a 3-sport
athlete at USM playing field hockey, basketball and lacrosse and
helped capture 2 state titles in field hockey. Following graduation
and the passage of Title IX, she was instrumental in the
advancement of girls and women’s sports across southern
Maine. She coached girls’ teams in Little League, basketball,
and high school softball and she pioneered and played on club teams
in women’s soccer, basketball, rugby and fast-pitch
softball.
In the fall of 1976 Mathews (Staid) played in the inaugural
women's rugby game on the East Coast, for Beantown, in Boston. The
following spring, she co-founded the Portland Women's RFC and went
on to win four consecutive New England Championships and a National
Title in 1978. She played Select Side rugby for the ERU (Eastern
Rugby Union) and toured England, Wales, Ireland and Bermuda.
Returning to Beantown RFC in 1988 following the birth of her first
daughter, she helped capture another National Championship in 1990.
Her Portland, Maine team will be recognized as part of a Gala 30
Year Celebration of Women’s Rugby in the United States this
fall during the National Club Championships in Orlando, FL
sponsored by USA Rugby and the Women’s Sports Foundation.
When not playing or coaching, Mathews spent her time raising her
family and pursuing a career in Product Development of active
sports apparel at L.L.Bean.
The Bowdoin College Women’s Rugby Club was elevated from
club sport to Varsity status in fall 2003. One of just five Varsity
programs in the country, Mathews is proud of the culture and
traditions so important to her and the early players that prevail
today: camaraderie, support, diversity, inclusiveness, great fun,
and mutual respect for each other and the challenges that face
women playing a contact sport.
In addition to coaching the women’s team, MaryBeth coaches
the Maine Collegiate U-23 All Star and the New England U-23 All
Star teams. Two former players at Bowdoin, Farrah Douglass and
Christina Hobson, are currently on the USA Women’s National
Team. Other alumni are playing and coaching across the country.
Coach Mathews is a certified U.S.A.R.F.U. Level II Coach as well as
a certified referee.
"The most diverse, interesting and amazing women choose to play
rugby, whether they played varsity sports in high school or never
played a team sport before. I am lucky enough to coach them here at
Bowdoin, get to know these intelligent, vibrant young women and
watch as they’re rewarded in unexpected ways." says Mathews.
"I absolutely loved playing the game because of the teamwork and
friendships, but also the tactical awareness and fitness required.
I love coaching it because women's rugby is the ultimate team game.
Like many sports, the lessons learned and benefits gained from
setting goals, staying with your commitments, overcoming
challenges, and learning to lead on and off the field carry over
into life long after college. I am proud of the inclusive, diverse
and supportive atmosphere we have created here at Bowdoin where
women can develop greater self-awareness and find new strengths
while learning to play a really fun, new sport!"
