ABOUT - OUR COACHES
Head Coach (Grizzlies Men) - Beau Lee
Beau Lee has played at all levels of rugby during his 35 years of playing. Having played from youth to adult and club to professional in the US and Europe, he brings a wealth of experience to the club. Beau is passionate about the growth of rugby, especially in Colorado Springs and our US military, and has worked hard to move the sport forward.
For the last 4 years Beau has been coaching with the Grizzlies in a variety of positions including, Head Coach, Assistant Coach, and Forwards Coach. He is currently leading the Grizzlies as Head Coach and serves as the Vice President for Colorado Springs Rugby Club.
Strength and Conditioning Coach – Tom Parry
D4 Player/Coach (Grizzlies Men) - Jon Gillin
As a player Jon Gillin has been a part of the Colorado Springs Grizzlies for the past six years. Jon began playing in college in Nashville and latter was Vice President of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Rugby Club. He has played with other clubs around the country and while living in Ireland played with the Douglas/Carrigaline Rugby club.
Jon has a passion for teaching, coaching and giving back to the community through his love for rugby. Jon began coaching his own sons with the North Colorado Springs Falcons Youth Rugby. In Ireland Jon coached youth rugby at Crosshaven rugby club. And in 2019 he was named as Forwards Coach for the Colorado College Women's Rugby Club.
Always eager to learn as a player and coach, he is excited about the opportunity work with the coaching staff of the Colorado Springs Grizzlies and assist in the development of the Division 4 side. His duties include film and statistical analysis as well as functioning as a player/coach.
Head Coach (Pikes Peaks - women’s) – Joseph O’Keefe
Over the past thirty-five years, Joseph has played Rugby at a competitive level including division three collegiate, Division One Graduate School League, divisions one and three men’s club, and Russian League, St. Petersburg, Russia.
He has also been involved with Kutztown University Rugby, assisting Dr. Greg Jones in building the club from division three to division one through coaching, fundraising and recruitment. Joseph has built a very successful life utilizing skills honed on the pitch – teamwork, dedication, leadership and initiative. He is thrilled to be able to assist the Pikes Peaks.
Player/Coach (Pikes Peaks - women’s) – Jes Troutwine
Jes has played rugby since fall 2012, beginning with game time at the University of Missouri. After one year she transferred and finished her college rugby career at the University of Central Missouri. In her final year she was appointed forwards captain.
Jes then retired from rugby as a player but after moving to Colorado in the summer of 2018, she came out of retirement to play for the Pikes Peaks with the goal of learning how to coach.
Due to a car accident in January 2019 she officially stepped away as a player and began working with Joe in coaching the Pikes Peaks. Currently as Player-Coach, Jes jumps into practices and games as needed but her main priority is to teach women how to play the great sport of rugby.
