WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 29, 2022) – Old Glory DC today announced that Head Coach Andrew Douglas is departing from the organization effective immediately.
As the first and only head coach in the history of Old Glory DC, Coach Douglas joined the team before its first official MLR game, leading the team through a four-game exhibition season in 2019, five games of the pandemic-shortened 2020 MLR season, and the team’s first full MLR season in 2021. At the time of his departure, Douglas was the longest-tenured head coach in the league.
“Andrew has been both our coach and our player talent manager since the beginning,” said co-owner Chris Dunlavey. “He assembled our team each year, built the foundation of Old Glory’s culture from scratch, and led us to the successes we have been able to achieve so far. He is a real rugby professional, a great coach, and above all a very good man. We’ll consider him part of the Old Glory family forever.”
The team anticipates establishing an interim coaching structure for the balance of the 2022 MLR season while conducting a world-wide search for its head coach of the future.
“As challenging as this change will be, this gives us an opportunity to course-correct for the rest of 2022, and also to commit today to the direction we want to take this club long-term,” said co-owner Paul Sheehy. “We will soon share details of our plans for the future, which will focus on the sustainable growth of a regional, domestic player development pathway that will ensure consistent competitiveness of Old Glory teams year in and year out.”
Added Dunlavey, “We wish Andrew and his wonderful family the very best for the future.”
About Old Glory DC
Old Glory is the first and only professional rugby team in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. Established in 2018, Old Glory DC competes in Major League Rugby (MLR), a North American league that includes teams in New York, Boston, Atlanta, Toronto, Houston, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Austin, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Dallas.
The Old Glory ownership team is led by DC natives and life-long rugby players Paul Sheehy and Chris Dunlavey and includes the Scottish Rugby Union. The organization seeks to grow the sport of rugby in the region through community engagement, by promoting an alternative path for personal development through sport, embracing the unique values of rugby: respect, inclusion, community, integrity, and passion.
