CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte Head Women's Rugby Coach, Katie Wurst, will be stepping away from coaching at the University, Cherie Swarthout, director of athletics, announced today. Wurst will be taking on the role of assistant athletic director at Warren Wilson College.
 
"Katie has done tremendous work in laying the foundation for our women's rugby program," Swarthout stated. "Her vision and leadership have helped the program see a great deal of growth and success in just a short amount of time. We wish Katie all the best as she takes the next step in her career."
 
Wurst was pivotal in bringing the sport of rugby to campus just five seasons ago as the director of rugby, later taking the role as the head coach of the women's team solely as it was elevated to NCAA-Emerging sport status. In her first season at Queens, Wurst led her team to their first win in program history as they defeated Elon, 94-0, on the road. The Royals then picked up their first home win defeating Lander, 134-0. Queens would sit atop the conference standings in 15s for the entire season and follow the fall performance with and equally impressive spring 7s season that saw the team reach its first USA Rugby Collegiate 7s National Championships where they finished by winning the Shield match. The following season led to an invitation to the prestigious Collegiate Rugby Championship 7s tournament taking place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.   
 
The Royals worked towards elevation to varsity status, and joined the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) competition ahead of the 2019 fall season. Queens was the 19^th program to join the ranks of NIRA's competitive structure. They finished their first year of NCAA competition with a narrow loss to Brown University in the semifinals of Tier II competition. NIRA advanced to a divisional format as programs such as Lander University and Newberry College, with guidance from Wurst, also elevated to varsity status. The 2021 fall season saw Queens finish with another semifinal finish in NIRA 15s fall competition, and earn a bid to the spring USA Rugby 7s Collegiate Championship to compete against the top programs in the country.     
 
In addition to performing well on the pitch, the Queens women's rugby team has been very active in the community under Wurst's leadership. This past season, they earned the Royals Service team award after recording over 805 volunteer hours with 86 percent of the team participating.  They have been instrumental in creating youth flag rugby programming for girls in the Charlotte area, as many team members serve as coaches and referees for the next generation of rugby student-athletes. Queens women's rugby also volunteers each semester by partnering with USA Rugby to host coach and referee training courses to support growth of the sport.

"It has been an absolute dream to create and lead this team of exceptional student-athletes over the years," Wurst commented. "The program is the strongest it has ever been due to an incredible amount of effort from all teammates, extended rugby family members, and our truly dedicated coaching staff. It has been an honor to make history at Queens, and the advocacy work for NCAA rugby and limitless support of the Royals will always be present."  

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