Northeast Academy Introduces Its & Program Model
Northeast Academy Release: Kaitlin McCabe
The Northeast Academy has formalized its organizationali structure and expanded its official purpose statement to reflect the Academy’s developing mission and reach in 2017.
NERFU Executive Sevens Director John McGeachy, has been appointed Executive Director of the Northeast Academy after former Executive Director and founding partner, Sean Horan, announced his retirement in late November. Steve Lewis and Alex Magleby will continue to assist the Academy on its official Advisory Board, while Gary Lee Heavner and Lex Maccubbin hold the respective roles of Deputy Director and Assistant Director.
To support the Academy’s growth and expanded mission, Northeast Academy formalized the organizational structure to better provide direction and leadership. According to the new structure, the roles are as follows: Director of Coaching, Dom Wareing; Director of High Performance, Ryszard Chadwick; Director of Operations, Rob Chudzick; Director of Communications, Kaitlin McCabe; Director of Finance, John McGeachy; and Director of Medical, Dr. Victor Lopez.
In addition to developing and preparing hopeful rugby players for the USA National Teams, the Academy has now evolved to better serve its supporting Unions by expanding into broader enrichment opportunities for both players and coaches alike at the youth, college and club levels. Beginning in 2016, the Academy’s new opportunities included: a mentorship program that saw coaches, referees and administrators shadow the Academy staff throughout their eight-week long summer practice sessions; four High School skills camps, delivered during the fall in the Boston area with a participation of approximately 50 athletes from about 15 schools; the hosting of the national Level-300 coaching certification in which approximately 10 coaches from the region participated.
In 2017, the Academy plans to further its program and establish itself as the preferred organization for rugby education in the Northeast region through: skills camps and coaching seminars in partnership with local clubs; sponsoring a HS/College 7s event in an attempt to connect senior clubs with the younger players to better enable recruitment; developing a “Tight Five Academy” to up skill players more focused on 15s forward play.
The Academy would like to thank the Unions for their continued financial support and will continue to develop a more self-sustaining business model as a nonprofit 501©(3) organization.
The Northeast Academy is a National Development Academy sanctioned by USA Rugby as the official designated pathway to the USA Eagles National Team selection for both Men and Women in the Northeast of America. With training locations in New York City, Boston and Buffalo, the Academy offers development in three distinct areas: elite player advancement; coach education; and local union enrichment; and has the ultimate goal to augment the skills of players and coaches alike, growing the game within the EMPIRE and NERFU Unions.
