Colorado Springs, Colo. — USA Rugby today announced its search for a national technical director, a key position in developing the playing strength of the growing union. The full-time position is charged to train more coaches and to increase the educational level of existing coaches. The technical director also is responsible for developing instructional materials and contributing to youth development, referee, and safety initiatives across the continental nation. In the past five years, USA Rugby has spent considerable effort on improving its technical standards, beginning with the establishment of a national coaching certification program. Since its inception, the program has certified some 1,100 coaches at Level I, nearly 400 at Level II, and more than 100 at Level III. “The national technical director has always played a key role in the development of USA Rugby training programs for coaches,” national technical panel chair Chuck Depew said. “The search for the right candidate is critical to the continued success of the program.” Much of the program was introduced with the assistance of an International Rugby Board (IRB) grant. Today, it is sustained by the USA Rugby’s general budget. “We expect that the new national technical director will possess the necessary skills to develop new coaching certification clinics to make a more comprehensive coaching education program,” president Anne Barry said. The position opened with the departure of Eddie O’Sullivan, who returned home to become assistant coach of Ireland. O’Sullivan had doubled as assistant coach of the United States. A position description and application are available at www.usarugby.org/teams/ProgDirApp.pdf, or by contacting the national office at 719-637-1022. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 31, 2000.