NCR and Rugbee.co are proud to recognize Philip Payne as September’s Coach of the Month. Payne is the head coach of the Ohio Wesleyan University’s Women’s and Men’s Rugby teams. He is in his third year with the program, and has enjoyed teaching the game and building up the club.
In the spring of 2023, the Ohio Wesleyan Women’s sevens team finished sixth in the country at the Collegiate Rugby Championship. Payne previously spent three seasons as the Head Coach for the Columbus Men’s (Scioto Valley) Division 1 Premiership side. He also coached for ten years as the Head Coach for The Ohio State University Women’s team, and five years as an Assistant Coach for the Ohio State University Men’s team, where he learned from Tom Rooney and Dan Porter.
Coach Payne spent two years as the Forwards Coach for the Midwest Men’s Collegiate Thunderbirds, where he learned from Sopa Enari and Simon Bidmead. He also coached the Ohio U19 Girls High School and Ohio Collegiate Men’s All-Stars.
Players from the Ohio Wesleyan University Women’s team have nothing but praise for their coach. “Coach Payne has helped rebuild our club from four people during the pandemic to over twenty. He strives to make every mistake a learning opportunity and wants rugby practice to be our favorite part of the week.”
“Besides his coaching, we also had seven Scholastic All Americans which shows he supports us in all aspects of life, not just on the pitch.”
Payne started playing rugby in 1984 for South Pittsburgh, and went on to play at Baldwin-Wallace University. He is married to Carol Payne, and they have one daughter, Cosette, who is a high school senior.