Staff & Coaches

Director Marybeth Mathews

Bowdoin College Head Coach Emerita, Varsity Women’s Rugby

Following a successful career leading the Varsity Polar Bears to multiple conference and national titles Coach Mathews retired in Summer 2023 after her 29th year coaching rugby at Bowdoin College.  Committed to girl’s and women’s rugby, she will remain active hosting Polar Bear Rugby Camp.  Following her career playing women’s club rugby, winning two national championships (1978 Portland; 1991 Beantown) and in addition to coaching the nationally ranked Polar Bears to 2019, 2021 and 2022 NCAA/NIRA DIII Championships, Mathews coached the Maine U-23 and New England U-23 Select Sides and is a USA Rugby certified coach and referee. Contributions to the game include 5 yrs East Regional Representative on USAR College Management Council, 3 years Women’s Strategic Committee, NESCAC Conference Commissioner, President, American Collegiate Rugby Association 2012-2016, an organization dedicated to promoting women’s collegiate rugby, and current board member of the U.S. W’s Rugby Foundation. At the annual WRCRA conference in January 2023, Mathews was one of eight women to receive the Inaugural Kathy Flores Lifetime Achievement Award for dedication and service to rugby. Mathews now serves on the Board of the U.S. Women’s Rugby Foundation.

Bowdoin’s Varsity Rugby program consistently graduates top leaders in their academic fields and turns out winning seasons on the pitch, including five New England Championships, bids to regional (2006, 2007, 2011 through 2017) and national championships (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019).  Bowdoin Rugby has produced numerous high school and college coaches, referees, 14 Collegiate All-Americans, hundreds of All-Academics, and two USA National team members. The team tours internationally every four years.