Iowa State Women’s Rugby – Kelsie McDowell

Kelsie McDowell launched her rugby career at the University of Northern Iowa, where she played between 2008 and her graduation in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Government. Her final year the team advanced to the USA Rugby Women’s Elite 8, losing to Brigham Young University.

Since graduating, her rugby playing days have been restricted to occasional matches with the Omaha/Des Moines women’s team. Instead, she has turned to coach rugby.

Kelsie began coaching rugby with Southeast Polk High School in 2013. In 2014 she became the IowaYouth Rugby Development Director, a position that she continued with through 2017. She also became the head coach the Iowa Hawkettes from 2014-2018, winning the Minnesota 7s and Lakefront 7s in 2016, 2017, and in 2018, as well as the National Invitational Championship in Minnesota in 2017.

In 2015, Kelsie was a coach at the Midwest Under-24 Camp and became the first women’s rugby head coach at Simpson College. There she guided the team to qualify for the NSCRO 7s Nationals. She also was the head coach of the Iowa HS Girls All-Stars 7s at Midwest All Star 7s Invitational.From 2015 to the present, she has also been the assistant/ forwards coach for the Iowa LAU Collegiate team.

During 2017 she also was selected as an Assistant Coach under Bryn Chivers for the Prairie States side at the NSCRO All-Star 7s.

Iowa State Women’s Rugby Club is in good hands with an experienced head coach like Kelsie McDowell.

Kelsie McDowell Comments

“I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with ISU. I know many of their players from the Iowa collegiate all-star team and several have played for me on the Hawkettes in high school. It’s going to be an amazing opportunity. ISU has always been an extremely solid program, even back to when I played in school. I’m hoping we can keep them growing and moving forward! The women already have a solid leadership based formed and I can’t wait to get to know them better!!”