BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – After serving as an assistant coach at Quinnipiac University for the past five seasons, Long Island University Director of Athletics announced Doherty as the second women’s rugby head coach in program history on Tuesday, Jan. 15.
“We are thrilled to have someone of Colleen’s caliber join our LIU family,” stated DeJong. “She is a proven winner with a history of success as both a coach and a student-athlete, and we cannot wait to see how she can elevate our program to new heights.”
During her five year stint as a member of Quinnipiac’s coaching staff, the Bobcats won three National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) national titles in 2015, 2016 and 2017. She worked closely with the attack and defensive structure of the back line, who produced four NIRA All-Americans in 2017-18.
Doherty’s experience extends beyond the college ranks; she serves on the board of the New Haven Rugby Football Club along with being the women’s sevens head coach and women’s 15’s associate head coach. She guided the New Haven women’s sevens to an Empire Sevens Series Championship in 2018, its first year at the competitive level.
“I could not be more excited to join the LIU community,” said Doherty. “I am grateful that Debbie and Jessica [Roque] have afforded me the opportunity to be the leader of LIU’s women’s rugby program. I look forward to combining LIU’s first-class academic and highly-competitive athletic community to develop a complete student-athlete and young women willing to work for success both on and off the field.”
She is a pioneer in the inaugural NCAA Women’s Coaches Mentor Program, a member of the Alliance of Women Coaches and a graduate of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy Class 41.
Along with her coaching experience, Doherty also had a storied playing career with the Bobcats. In 2011 she was a member of the inaugural rugby team in the spring and became a four-year starter and captain. She was named Most Valuable Player in 2012-13, leading the team and assists along recording thirty tackles and scoring four tries. During that season she helped Quinnipiac earn a bid to the national tournament in Stanford, California, and win the Tri-State Conference Championship. At the national tournament she helped lead the Bobcats to third-place finish against the University of Buffalo, with their only loss of the season coming against Winona State in the semi-finals. Each year she was on the team she was a recipient of the Bobcat Award for the passion and pride she showed for rugby.
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