FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — (Washington, DC – October 3rd, 2019) Old Glory DC is honored to announce that Jimmy Cuddihy has been named Chief Revenue Officer, marking the second full-time front office hire for the professional rugby team.
Jimmy Cuddihy comes to Old Glory DC after serving as Executive Vice President of Programming, Marketing, and Affiliate Relations of MASN – the Mid Atlantic Sports Network. He has served as EVP since 2006, overseeing MASN’s rights to the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals, and Baltimore Ravens (2006-2009). Before joining MASN, Cuddihy had long been involved with sports and entertainment television, owning his own production company and helping to launch three regional sports networks. The veteran sports television executive found rugby at a young age, starting as fullback for Xavier High School (NY) – the first team east of Salt Lake City to win the National Championship. In college, he was the captain of Syracuse University in 1988-89.
Cuddihy is no stranger to the Mid-Atlantic rugby community. From 1991-1993, he coached North Penn High School, the last two years as the head coach. In 1992, North Penn finished fifth in the nation. From 2014-2016, Cuddihy joined rugby powerhouse Gonzaga College High School (DC) as the back and kicking coach. In 2014, Gonzaga celebrated its first National Championship team. Gonzaga is one of three single-schools in the 34-year history of high school rugby national championships that has won back-to-back national championships, with their second consecutive national championship in 2015.
In 2016, Cuddihy was named CEO of a group of investors of a U.S. rugby franchise that would potentially play in the Guinness Pro 14. He met with leaders of most of the league’s franchises and traveled extensively in northern Europe and the U.S. to solicit investors and to make the proper contacts. Ultimately, the league expanded in South Africa instead of the U.S. During Old Glory DC’s four-game exhibition season in late spring of this year, Cuddihy joined the team as a media partner, providing valuable experience to the club.
“We’ll say it again,” said Chairman Chris Dunlavey, “if we’re going to build a world-class rugby organization, it has to start with bringing the best people on board. Jimmy is a consummate pro in media and sports marketing, and he’s already proven to be a game-changing asset to Old Glory and, in fact, all of MLR.”
Of his new role with Old Glory DC, Cuddihy said, “This is the opportunity a lifetime. I have loved the sport of rugby since I first picked up a ball in high school. Having been in the sports and entertainment television industry for thirty plus years, I now get to combine my work experience with my passion for rugby for the premiere of Old Glory in Major League Rugby.”
Jimmy is a graduate of Syracuse University, where he earned a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism cum laude from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications. He now lives in the Washington, D.C. suburbs with his wife Kristin, a middle-school director and teacher. They have two children – Madeline, 26 and Thomas, 23.
