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The Glendale Raptors have begun the search for a new Head Coach after it was confirmed that Dave Williams had been released earlier this week. It comes at the end of a disappointing year for the Raptors, who ended the 2019 Major League Rugby season with a 7-7-2 record after going 7-1 and reaching the Final in 2018.
Williams had been part of the Glendale organization since 2011, where he began as Strength & Conditioning Coach. The 40-year-old was named Head Coach of the Raptors in November 2016 after a brief role as an assistant with the Denver Stampede in the now-defunct PRO Rugby. As a player he won 11 caps for the Eagles and also represented the USA at sevens.
Director of Rugby Mark Bullock made a brief statement on Glendale’s social media channels:
“We appreciate the foundation that David has built in Glendale, and these decisions are never easy. Ultimately, my job is to ensure that the needs of the organization and the needs of the players are aligned. I wish David the best in his future endeavors.”
The statement added that further restructuring would be taking place in the coming months. Among those currently on staff are former Eagles Luke Gross and Ata Malifa, in charge of amateur rugby and the academy respectively. Forwards coach Peter Borlase was chief assistant to Williams this season.
