ABOUT - OUR COACHES
Head Coach - Kirk Tate
Recently moved to Colorado, Kirk spent 40 years as a player, coach, and administrator in Central Texas. A former lock and 8 man, he has coached teams ranging from U10s to Division 1 Senior Men at Austin Huns, San Marcos Greys, University of Texas, St. Edwards University, and Kirby Hall School. He also has deep experience in administration at the club, GU, and national level, including serving as President of the Texas Rugby Union from 2014 to 2023. Coach Kirk was inducted into the Texas Rugby Union Hall of Fame in 2018.Kirk promotes a "big tent" approach that welcomes everyone to the sport of rugby regardless of age, experience, or ability while enabling the most accomplished players to excel in high level competition.His Favorite quote: “Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers
Assistant Head Coach/Backs Coach - Vic Tice
Coach Vic Tise began his rugby career as a Cadet at the United States Military Academy. He continued his involvement with rugby, distance running and Triathlon while serving as a Military Intelligence and Latin America Foreign Area Officer at various postings around the Western Hemisphere. As the Senior Army Officer at the U.S. Air Force Academy, he served as an Assistant and Head Coach for the Zoomies Women's Rugby team. Air Force Women’s Rugby was consistently ranked in the Division 1 top ten collegiate Rugby teams and went on to back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003.
After retirement from the Army, Coach Vic became the running coach for the USA Modern Pentathlon team. Pentathletes he coached won National Championships, PanAmerican Games and earned spots on World Cup and Olympic teams. Additionally, Coach Vic contributed to producing 13 All-American rugby players, 3 of whom played for the USA Eagles. He served as a selector for U19s and U23s Rugby. A Certified Level 2 USA Rugby Coach, Coach Vic served as the head coach for the Colorado College Women’s team and is excited to continue supporting the growth of Rugby as a Coach for the Grizzlies and for the Front Range Youth Rugby Club, that he recently helped start up.
Assistant Coach - Colin Chappell
Coach Colin was born in Somerset, England. He started playing rugby at 11 yrs old at Chew Valley Secondary School. Colin played U15 and U18 Somerset County before joining Weston-Super-Mare RFC playing over 300 first team games. He was then selected to move to Bath RFC, playing 40+ 1st team games. Following a your to Vancouver, Canada, he moved and joined the Nanaimo Hornets RFC.
Following his playing career, Colin started coaching U16 and U18 programs. He then worked with a start up Women’s side and a new Mini’s program. As his involvement in Mini and Youth Rugby grew again, he took on the chairman role for North Vancouver Island Tsunami Rugby Academy and V.P. Vancouver Island Union, responsible for Youth Rugby. Coach Colin new contributes his many years of premier rugby experience to coaching the Grizzlies forwards.
