BRUNSWICK, Maine - Bowdoin College has named Laura Miller as its new head coach of women's rugby. Miller becomes just the second coach in the history of the program, which dates back to the 1980's and has been one of the nation's few varsity programs since 2002. 

Most recently Miller was the head coach of Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, since 2021 where she was the founding coach of the women's rugby program and the co-chair of the student-athlete mental health committee. 

"Laura brings an incredible wealth of playing and coaching experience to our women's rugby program and I am excited for her to join our community," said Ashmead White Director of Athletics Tim Ryan '98. "Her appreciation of the liberal arts educational experience and providing an environment that both challenges and supports our athletes was apparent during our conversations and I look forward to supporting her success at Bowdoin."

"I would like to thank Tim Ryan and the search committee for this incredible opportunity," said Miller. "This role has been an aspirational one for me and I am honored to be leading the Bowdoin women's rugby team into its next chapter. I would also like to thank MaryBeth and Bob Mathews for their years of service to Bowdoin College, they have left a lasting impact on this program and the women's rugby community as a whole." 

"Bowdoin is a community that reflects my values as a coach, educator, and advocate for the liberal arts and I look forward to serving the program with consummate passion for the development of student-athletes and collegiate women's rugby."

Prior to her time at Aquinas, Miller was the director of rugby and head coach at Alderson Broaddus University where she was the founding coach of the men's and women's rugby programs. While at Alderson Broaddus, she facilitated the elevation of the women's rugby program to compete in Division II of the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA). In addition to her collegiate head coaching experience, Miller has worked for USA Rugby, serving as a coach educator and the interim Midwest Education Administrator, and has also served in coaching and program director roles in support of youth rugby in Georgia and Colorado.  

In addition to her coaching experience, Miller was an outstanding player internationally. Miller was a member of the USA Women's National 15's Team from 2010-2016, competing in two world cup qualifying cycles while earning five caps on three international tours. She also played in London for the Saracens Premiere side, for the Glendale (Colo.) Raptors in the Women's Premier League (WPL), and for the Washington DC Furies WPL 15's and 7's teams.

Miller is a graduate of St. Mary's College of Maryland, majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Environmental Studies while becoming a two-time women's rugby All-American. She earned her Master of Science in Positive Psychology from Life University, where she also served as an assistant rugby coach.

Miller assumes the helm of a program that has been the finest in Division III of the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association over the last several seasons. Bowdoin has claimed three straight NIRA Division III crowns, including an 8-1 campaign en route to the title last fall.