Coaching Staff

 

John Buchholz - Middle School Backs CoachJohn Buchholz – U12 coach

Coach John began playing for the Elsie Allen High School rugby program in 1997 and later went on to win four consecutive national championships while enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley. While at Cal John was named to the Under-19 All American team that toured New Zealand in 1998. Primarily a fullback, Coach John toured Ireland with the Collegiate All American side and made his senior international debut as a member of the national team representing the United States in the 2001 Pan American Games in Canada.

Between 2002 and 2006, Coach John played for the Olympic Club in San Francisco.  In addition to his service for the Olympic Club’s Super League squad, in 2003 he was named to the National 7s team that toured Hong Kong, the National 15s team for tours to Spain, Florida, Canada, Russia, and Argentina. Coach John finished the year representing his country in the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. In 2004 Coach John move to Brisbane, Australia to play a season for Brothers Rugby Club.  That year he also played for the US 7s team in New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles.  He also toured with the 15s side to Canada, Japan, and Connecticut.  He has been coaching at Motley since 2011.

 

 Lou Stanfill-U8-U10 coach

Coach Lou has earned an incredible 56 caps as a USA Eagle and has exceeded on the pitch at the high school, college, club, international and professional levels.  He was recently inducted into the USA Rugby Hall of Fame.

He was a standout football player at Jesuit High School and was recognized as the city of Sacramento’s Defensive Player of the year, earning All-State Honors in 2002. He began playing rugby at Jesuit and led his team to a national semifinal appearance. Lou continued his academic and rugby career at the University of California, Berkeley, from 2004 to 2008, where Cal won five consecutive National Collegiate titles and Lou was named a Collegiate All-American in each of those five campaigns. After graduating in 2008, he relocated to the Big Apple, where he played for the New York Athletic Club from 2009 to 2012. helping his undefeated team win the National Club Championship and Lou earning the MVP honors in 2012.

‍Lou made his international debut as a USA Eagle against Canada in 2005 at the age of 19. He went on to play for the USA National Team until 2015, enjoying a career that included three Rugby World Cups (2007, 2011, 2015). He also toured with the Eagles to Canada, Europe, and South America. Lou was an outstanding lock that had a nose for the tryline and was known for his tenacious tackling. He was selected as captain for the USA against Fiji in 2013. His last game of Eagles rugby was against South Africa in London’s Olympic Stadium. Lou finished his Eagle career with 56 caps, 6th most in USA Rugby history.

Cliff Rouse – Middle School Coach 

Founding Members/Former Coaches/Administrators

Matt Eason-Director of CoachingMatt Eason – Director of Coaching
Coach Matt began his rugby playing career as an Outside Center with the California State University, Sacramento rugby team. He moved to Hooker with the McGeorge School of Law’s Ducks where he served as team Captain, and continued to play at that position for a brief period of time with the Sacramento Men’s Rugby Football Club until he took up officiating.

As a referee, Coach Matt was fortunate to travel all over North America, and to England where he even officiated a match at Cambridge. Subsequent to refereeing actively, he became an International Rugby Board (IRB) Judicial Officer, and has presided over disciplinary matters in several International Test matches, including USA v Ireland and USA v Wales. He continues to serve in that role, and also and serves as a USA Rugby National Panel Referee Coach.

As one of the founding coaches of Land Park Rugby, he has helped bring it from a handful of boys to one of the most respected youth rugby programs in California. His continual emphasis on fun and the respect for the game has resulted in players that once took the pitch at 12 years old now leading high school and college teams. As testament to his commitment to fun, when asked to list his favorite rugby experience, Coach Matt immediately recounts his role as the Kangaroo Court Prosecutor during the first Motley tour of San Diego.

Matt’s son JR played Motley for four years, then four years at Jesuit and one at St. Marys.

 

Rich Boyer – Middle School Head Coach

Head coach Rich brings multiple contributions to the Motley coaching staff as a result of over 38 years of active playing experience. He played four years for National Champions University of California, Berkeley, at center.  Post Cal, Rich played for the likes of the Sacramento Capitols, the Old Blues, the revived Sacramento Old Boys and the California Bald Eagles. Truly giving back to the game he loves, Rich will serve in his 12th year as a certified rugby referee where he is proud to officiate high school, collegiate and men’s games played by Motley alumni on the pitch. Rich coached the respected Christian Brothers High School rugby team from ’05-’07.

Recruited by Motley to serve as one of its original coaches, Coach Rich has seen many squads taste victory during the Northern California Youth Rugby Championship tournament.  This year will be Coach Rich’s 13th year with Motley, having seen the squad grow from fifteen players in 2007 up to 130+ players.

Coach Rich’s son Nick Boyer is a founding player of Motley, class of 2007.  Nick played four years at Jesuit and five years at Cal Berkeley, where he won four Sevens National Championships and one Fifteens National Championship.  In addition, Nick played U-20s Eagles and was a three time Collegiate All American.  Nick furthered his rugby career post Cal, being selected twice each for USA Selects tours to South America for both Sevens and Fifteens; Tiger Rugby in Hong Kong 10s and Melrose Sevens.  He currently plays Pro Rugby with San Diego Legion.  In 2018 Nick played for the USA Eagles on the Sevens Circuit and was also capped for the Eagles Fifteens in Romania.

 

Jeff Phillips - U-12 CoachJeff Phillips – Administrator/ U-12 Coach
An original Motley Forwards Coach, Jeff Phillips first played blindside and open side flanker for Boston College in 1982 and went on to earn a starting spot on the varsity squad as a sophomore. From 1989 to 1993, Coach Jeff on a number of historic clubs on both the east and west coach. Jeff played wing, center and hooker for the Santa Monica Rugby Club, inside and outside center for Potomac Athletic Club Coach where he stood tall against such historic clubs as Old Blue, Philly Whitemarsh, Maryland Old Boys , NOVA, and Life Chiropractic. Jeff also played 7s for the BATS and the Los Angles Rugby Club.

Jeff’s son Mason played Motley five years, then Jesuit for four years and is currently a Freshman at University of Arizona.  Jeff’s other son Conner played Motley six years and is in his junior year at Jesuit High School.

 

Steve Nelson - U-10 Head CoachSteve Nelson – U-10 Head Coach
Steve Nelson, is fondly referred to as “Boris” by his rugby buddies. A High School stand-out football player from Illinois, he ultimately became an Officer and Director with the respected American River Junior Raiders football club, Steve brings a deep respect for youth sports and for making the experience as fun as humanly possible.

Coach Steve took up the sport of Rugby twenty years ago while in Law School with Matt Eason. Knowing nothing about the game at first, Coach Steve was first put at wing and told by the coach, “just catch the ball and run with it.” Unfortunately Coach Steve forgot to tell his coach that without his glasses he couldn’t see the ball to catch. Ultimately, wiser minds prevailed, and Coach Steve was moved to the position of Prop where Coach Matt was his Hooker. The two of them with a fearless third whose name they won’t disclose, traveled all over the Western United States wrecking havoc on other front-rows. If you want to know where Coach Matt’s skeletons are buried, undoubtedly Coach Steve knows where.

On a serious note, Steve is also the proud father to two Motley Alum:  WIll and Jacob.  Both played four years at Jesuit and Will continues to play at UC Santa Clara.  Steve helped coach the inaugural year of the U-10 squad who traveled all over California winning most of their games, and garnered the nickname “Road Warriors”.