Anton Malko Ends Full-Time Role With Cal Rugby

Cal Athletics Release

Assistant Director Of Athletics Communications To Continue As Volunteer

BERKELEY – The California rugby program will have a new sports information director for the 2019-20 academic year following the exit this week of longtime assistant director of athletics communications Anton Malko, who notified Intercollegiate Athletics of his intent this summer.

“We’re truly sorry to lose Anton on a full-time basis. He has been an important part of our staff,” said Golden Bears head coach Jack Clark. “His work has been extremely professional and crucial to building our rugby brand and stakeholder community. We owe him a great debt of appreciation and wish him the best of success going forward.”

Part of Cal’s media relations and communications office since 2005, Malko is expected to tend to his communications company as he continues to serve the Rugby Bears in a volunteer role.

“My primary objective is to make this an effective transition,” said Malko. “Words can’t adequately describe my gratitude, but I owe everything to my experiences at Cal. I look forward to remaining connected.”

Malko first arrived at Cal from New York City, where he grew up as a neighbor to Rugby Magazine founder Ed Hagerty. At Connecticut College, Malko captained the rugby club as a junior and senior and graduated with a degree in English before returning to his hometown to work in publishing and communications. In 2005, he moved to the Bay Area and began working with coach Clark as his program’s primary media contact while also assisting Cal football, men’s basketball, men’s golf, and other sports. Rising from media relations assistant to the senior writer, Malko also wrote features and releases for the University’s Office of Development while stewarding Cal rugby into the age of social media.

Following a 2009 vote by the International Olympic Committee to reintroduce rugby as a medal sport at the 2016 Summer Games, Malko focused further on rugby as the Bears developed 7s components to their training and competition calendars. Cal played its first 7s competitions in 2010, starting a pattern of Olympic-style tournaments in the autumn followed by a 15-a-side schedule each spring.

After covering Cal alumni in the third Rugby World Cup of his tenure in 2015, Malko traveled to Rio in 2016 as a credentialed member of the media to follow 50 Cal student-athletes and coaches, including alumnus Danny Barrett, at the Olympics. He worked as a member of the event media staff at the 2018 Rugby World Cup 7s before finishing his 14th spring on the Cal staff in the 2019 national postseason.

“I’m excited to see Cal rugby remain a flagship program whose student-athletes strive to reach their potential and represent their University,” Malko added. “Being part of the Cal family has been and will continue to be an honor.”

Cal rugby remains reachable at calrugby@berkeley.edu and (510) 643-1971 as the 2019-20 competition calendar approaches, beginning with the West Coast Collegiate 7s on Oct. 5 at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. The action continues Oct. 19-20 at the Treasure Island stop of the WCC7s and culminates Nov. 9-10 in Steuber Stadium at Stanford University, where Cal will compete in the PAC Rugby 7s Championship.