Following the completion of his 3rd year as Head coach of the newly established Palmetto Developmental Side, Mark Morris was promoted to the program’s head coaching position in the Fall of 2011.

A native of Columbia, Mark Morris is a 1981 graduate of USC and a former member of the '77-'81 USC Rugby Team after a brief couple of years playing football for USC. Coach Morris holds both Level I and Level II Coaching Accreditation and several other coaching certifications from USA Rugby.

Coach Morris joined several of his Spring Valley High School football teammates playing on the USC Rugby Team after USC football, and fell in love with the game of rugby. While at USC, Coach Morris played several positions, but found his home at No. 7. He also had the pleasure of playing with the former USC head coach, Geoff Mason, when Coach Mason joined the team in 1981. Coach Morris held several club offices while on the team and was voted team captain during the '79 and '80 seasons and finished as Club President '80-'81. 

Coach Morris was honored by being selected to the Palmetto Select Side all four years he competed at USC, and also was selected to the USA South Select Side in 1978 and 1979. During his career after college, Coach Morris played every position based on the needs of his new teams, Charleston RFC, Myrtle Beach RFC, Atlanta Renegades RFC and, finally, returning to play for Columbia Olde Grey. In 2008, Coach Morris rejoined the USC Rugby Team as the Head Coach of the Palmetto “C” Side, USC’s developmental side for newer, inexperienced players. Due to Coach Morris’ assistance, many of these players have gone on to join their fellow teammates at the Division I level.

While coaching at USC, Coach Morris has served simultaneously as the Head Coach of the Spring Valley High School Rugby Team located in Northeast Columbia. Under his leadership, Spring Valley was crowed as the Multi-School State Champions during the 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons, winning the overall State Championship in 2008. Spring Valley has also had the honor of being selected to represent South Carolina High School Rugby in the USA Rugby South Playoffs in 2007, 2008, & 2010, putting up impressive wins against well-established programs.

Coach Morris brings a vast rugby background and knowledge to the team as he looks to continue to build upon the program’s recent accomplishments and work to make USC Rugby a premier contender in Division I rugby.

Following the completion of his 2nd year as an assistant backs coach for both the USC premier and reserve sides, Ken McCarthy was promoted to the premier side head coaching position in the Fall of 2011. A native of Australia, Ken McCarthy brings a vast experience of back play from youth, to collegiate, to men's club rugby in his coaching. While in Australia, Coach McCarthy played most of his rugby for the University of New England and the Vikings Club in Wollongong. He found his home at Inside Center and Fullback for the New England, Illawarra and Riverina regions, as well as for NSW Country and Australian Universities. Coach McCarthy continues to reunite with former players every few years for international tours against other former players.

Since becoming a US citizen, Ken McCarthy has lived most of his life in the Southeast, returning to his current home of Chapin, SC in 2002. In 2009, Coach McCarthy joined the coaching staff at USC to serve as the premier and reserve side backs coach under then Head Coach Geoff Mason. During his tenure, Coach McCarthy has worked diligently to develop USC’s skills in both the 7’s and the 15’s game while also building up a strong backline in a traditionally forward heavy program.

While coaching at USC, Coach McCarthy has served simultaneously as the Assistant Coach of the Chapin High School Rugby Team located in his hometown. In 2009, he assisted the team to a 4-4 record in its inaugural season. In 2010, Chapin was crowed as the South Carolina State Runner-ups, winning the overall State Championship in 2011 with a final record of 8-0. Chapin has also had the honor of being selected to represent South Carolina High School Rugby in the USA Rugby South Playoffs in 2009, 2010, & 2011, putting up impressive wins against well-established programs.

Now in his new leadership role, Coach McCarthy looks to continue to build upon the program’s recent accomplishments and work to make USC Rugby a premier contender in Division I rugby.

A native of North Carolina, Coach Steve Darnell was a founding member of the University of North Carolina – Greensboro Rugby Club. Playing for UNCG from ’77 to ’79, Coach Darnell was elected team captain his senior year and led the team on a tour of the Bahamas. After graduation he continued his rugby playing career with the Greensboro Griffins and as a founding member of the Triad Dogs. Coach Darnell also continued his relationship with UNCG while a graduate student at the university; coaching the side to an undefeated year and a North Carolina State Championship.

Coach Darnell spent most of his 12 years as a player at scrumhalf and fly half with a few stints at fullback. He saw the most success as a seven-a-side player with the Greensboro Old Boys. Coach Darnell was also honored to play with the Sam Stevens  Memorial Fifteen against the Askeans Rugby Club of London. 

In 2008, Coach Darnell rekindled his rugby career with the founding of the Chapin Eagles Rugby Team, in his hometown of Chapin, SC, serving as head coach for the first two seasons. In their inaugural season, he led the team to a 4-4 record, while taking the Eagles as far as the State Championship the following season. Chapin has also had the honor of being selected to represent South Carolina High School Rugby in the USA Rugby South Playoffs every year since its inception, putting up
impressive wins against well-established programs.

Beginning in the fall of 2011, Coach Darnell joined the coaching staff at USC to serve as the reserve side head coach, working diligently to produce tomorrow’s premiere side players. Coach Darnell holds both Level I and Level II coaching accreditation from USA Rugby.

Following the completion of his 2nd year as an assistant coach of the newly established Palmetto Developmental Side, John Bayard was promoted to the head coaching position in the Fall of 2011.

John Bayard has lived most of his life in the Southeast, making his home in Columbia for the past twenty-four years. Coach Bayard began his rugby playing career in 1973 as an original member of the Charleston RFC. Three years later found him in Augusta, Georgia playing for the Medical College of Georgia Mad Dogs (now Augusta RFC). Following a year playing for Colorado Springs, he returned to Augusta for several more seasons. Coach Bayard has played several positions but ultimately found his place at No. 7.

In 2009 he joined the Spring Valley High School Rugby Team and assisted the team in claiming their third Multi-School State Championship in as many years. Beginning in the spring of 2010, Coach Bayard joined the coaching staff at USC to assist with the newly established Palmetto “C” Side under then Head Coach Mark Morris. 

Now in his new leadership role, Coach Bayard looks to continue working with the Palmetto staff in preparing USC’s newer players for their transition to Division I.

Following the completion of his 13th year as Head coach of the Carolina Rugby program, Geoff Mason announced his retirement from the position in the Fall of 2011 and a return to the assistant coaching staff. 

Mason’s tenure included an overall record of 166 wins, 94 losses and 8 ties. Under his leadership the rugby team enjoyed five South Territory appearances, five Palmetto Tournament championships, and a promotion to South Division I, a title held by only six other universities at the time.

A native of Australia, Geoff Mason played both rugby league and rugby union for 35 years, beginning at age seven. A success on the field, he played in the New South Wales Rugby League competition for Sydney University, Newtown and Penrith in the 1970's as a prop and second row and represented Newcastle against New Zealand in 1978. From there, he emigrated to the US in 1980 and was a Player/Coach at USC from 1983-1985. Upon graduation, Mason played for the Columbia Olde Grey from 1986-1990 where he represented the South in the National All-Star Championships. In 1991, Coach Mason returned to USC where he assumed the head coaching position for four seasons, taking the team as far as the South Final Four.
 
With Coach Mason's return to USC in the spring of 2004, USC rose to new heights. Taking over a previously under-achieving Division II team, Coach Mason quickly helped the team reach the USA Rugby South Division II playoffs in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Building on this success, coupled with increased performance on the organization level, the team moved to the South's Division I. From 2008-2011 USC was continually ranked in the National Top 25 Division 1 rankings and received a bid to the South Playoffs against Arkansas State in 2010. As a result of his strong leadership of the Team, USC Rugby now boasts three sides, making it one of the largest collegiate rugby teams in the nation.

Considering Mason’s competitive nature and love for Carolina Rugby, it came as no surprise that he would stay on as an essential part of the program. “It is hard to step back from the head coaching position, but family and other commitments require it. I have been able to have positive and long lasting friendships with hundreds of players and coaches both at USC and the rugby community at large and hope I have created an ongoing love for the game among the students who have participated in our program.”

An adopted South Carolinian since 1985, Jed Shropshire matriculated at the University of Texas. He then settled in the Northern Virginia/DC area where he began his rugby career with the Maryland Old Boys (now Maryland Exiles). After a few seasons with ‘MOB’,he played for George Mason RFC and then was a founding member of Northern Virginia RFC. Primarily a back row player (No.6, 7, & 8), he played games in every position except hooker. He played back in the old days when there weren’t any subs and teams played two full seasons per year. In his 13 playing years, he was proud to play with and against several USA Eagles and two USA Eagles captains.

During his playing days, Coach Shropshire also served for two years as the Head Coach of the Mount Vernon High School Team, leading them to a 15-1 record in the second year and an unofficial claim to HS East Coast Champions.  Many of those players went on to college and senior careers.

Since arriving in Columbia, Coach Shropshire initially took a backseat to the sport, though in 2009 he joined the Spring Valley High School Rugby Team and assisted the team in claiming their third Multi-School State Championship in as many years. Beginning in the spring of 2010, Coach Shropshire joined the coaching staff at USC to assist with the newly established Palmetto “C” Side under then Head Coach Mark Morris.

With a re-energized passion for the game, Coach Shropshire looks to continue to build upon the program’s recent accomplishments and work to make USC Rugby a premier contender in Division I rugby.

A native of Fort Mill, South Carolina, Calvin Storey is a 2010 graduate of USC and a former member of the '08-'10 USC Rugby Team. More information coming soon!

A native of Pennsylvania, Leif Hoagland played collegiate rugby for Penn State for several years. Primarily a loose head prop, he occasionally played tight head and lock when needed. During his days at Penn State, the team made it to the national tournament each year, with appearances at the Final Four in both '94 & '95. Following his undergrad, Coach Hoagland moved to South Carolina in 1996 to pursue his Masters in Chiropractic. In 2002, Coach Hoagland, along with his wife, Sharon, opened the Richland Chiropractic Center, and continue to operate it to this day.

Still possessing a love for the sport after more than 13 years of being off the pitch, Coach Hoagland joined the Spring Valley High School Rugby Team as an assistant coach for the 2009 season. Working primarily with the forwards, Coach Hoagland assisted Head Coach Mark Morris and the team in claiming their third Multi-School State Championship in as many years.

Beginning in the spring of 2010, Coach Hoagland joined the coaching staff at USC to serve in the newly formed position of “Strength & Conditioning Coach.” With an extensive background in competitive power lifting, both as a competitor and as a training partner for several national champions, Coach Hoagland will be overseeing the health and fitness regiments of one of the nation’s largest and fastest growing teams.