Coaching Staff
Director of Rugby: Mark Morris
Following the completion of his 7th year as Head Coach of the Men’s Rugby program at the University of South Carolina, Mark Morris announced his retirement from the head coaching role to assume a greater administrative presence off the field as the Director of Rugby.
Morris' tenure at the helm includes back-to-back Southeastern Rugby Coach of the Year honors ('13 & '14) and an overall record of 71 wins and 26 losses (.732) for the 15s Premier Side. Under his leadership, the rugby program, as a whole, has enjoyed several accomplishments, to include national top 25 rankings, multiple SEC coach (3) and player (5) of the year awards in both 15s and 7s, multiple SEC 15s (2) and 7's (3) championships, and numerous USA Rugby (3) and Penn Mutual CRC (4) appearances.
A native of Columbia, Mark Morris is a 1981 graduate of USC and a former member of the '77-'81 Carolina Rugby team. Morris was elected Team Captain during the '79 and '80 seasons and finished as Club President '80-'81. Morris was 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, Morris played every position based on the needs of his new teams, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Atlanta Renegades, and, finally, returning to play for Columbia Olde Grey. In 2008, Morris rejoined the Gamecocks as the Head Coach of the Palmetto “C” Side, USC’s developmental side for newer, inexperienced players. Due to Morris’ assistance, many of these players went on on to join their fellow teammates at the Division I level. In the Fall of 2011, Morris was promoted to the program’s head coaching position following Coach Mason's retirement.
While coaching at USC, Coach Morris served simultaneously as the Head Coach of the Spring Valley High School Rugby team located in Northeast Columbia. Under his leadership, Spring Valley was crowned as the Multi-School State Champions during the 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons, winning the overall State Championship in 2008, the same year he was awarded the South Carolina High School Rugby Coach of the Year Award. Spring Valley also had the honor of being selected to represent South Carolina High School Rugby in the USA Rugby South Playoffs in 2007, 2008, & 2010.
Morris' competitive nature and love for Carolina Rugby will not allow him to completely retire from active coaching. He will still remain an essential part of the program as the new Director of Rugby, shifting his responsibilities away from the field and more towards the recruitment, development and management of players and support staff. “It is hard to step back from the head coaching role, 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. I am excited for my new role and how I can best serve the program in the years ahead. I congratulate Coach Darnell and I thank him for the leadership he has already provided these past 7 years. I know he will continue to make Gamecock Nation proud.”
Morris' tenure at the helm includes back-to-back Southeastern Rugby Coach of the Year honors ('13 & '14) and an overall record of 71 wins and 26 losses (.732) for the 15s Premier Side. Under his leadership, the rugby program, as a whole, has enjoyed several accomplishments, to include national top 25 rankings, multiple SEC coach (3) and player (5) of the year awards in both 15s and 7s, multiple SEC 15s (2) and 7's (3) championships, and numerous USA Rugby (3) and Penn Mutual CRC (4) appearances.
A native of Columbia, Mark Morris is a 1981 graduate of USC and a former member of the '77-'81 Carolina Rugby team. Morris was elected Team Captain during the '79 and '80 seasons and finished as Club President '80-'81. Morris was 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, Morris played every position based on the needs of his new teams, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Atlanta Renegades, and, finally, returning to play for Columbia Olde Grey. In 2008, Morris rejoined the Gamecocks as the Head Coach of the Palmetto “C” Side, USC’s developmental side for newer, inexperienced players. Due to Morris’ assistance, many of these players went on on to join their fellow teammates at the Division I level. In the Fall of 2011, Morris was promoted to the program’s head coaching position following Coach Mason's retirement.
While coaching at USC, Coach Morris served simultaneously as the Head Coach of the Spring Valley High School Rugby team located in Northeast Columbia. Under his leadership, Spring Valley was crowned as the Multi-School State Champions during the 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons, winning the overall State Championship in 2008, the same year he was awarded the South Carolina High School Rugby Coach of the Year Award. Spring Valley also had the honor of being selected to represent South Carolina High School Rugby in the USA Rugby South Playoffs in 2007, 2008, & 2010.
Morris' competitive nature and love for Carolina Rugby will not allow him to completely retire from active coaching. He will still remain an essential part of the program as the new Director of Rugby, shifting his responsibilities away from the field and more towards the recruitment, development and management of players and support staff. “It is hard to step back from the head coaching role, 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. I am excited for my new role and how I can best serve the program in the years ahead. I congratulate Coach Darnell and I thank him for the leadership he has already provided these past 7 years. I know he will continue to make Gamecock Nation proud.”
Head 15's and Forwards Coach: Joe Carey
Joe Carey takes the helm as USC 15s coach beginning in the Fall of 2019, having first worked as an Assistant Coach in 2018 under Steve Darnell. Prior to joining the Gamecocks, Coach Carey founded the Rugby Club at W.A. Hough High School, just outside Charlotte NC, in 2013, and served as head coach there through Spring 2018. He has also been on the coaching staff of the North Carolina High School All-Stars for the past 4 years, amassing an overall coaching record of 44-13-2.
Coach Joe started playing rugby at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, in 1983, serving 2 years as captain, and representing the NY Collegiate Select Side in 1985. During his playing career he has spent time with numerous men’s clubs in New York, Michigan, and North Carolina, including the Detroit Tradesmen and Charlotte Olde Originals / Charlotte Rugby Football Club. He has won Regional Select Side tournaments as a member of North Carolina and Michigan State Representative sides, been included in the Southeast Regional Select Side, as well as numerous invitational sides including North Carolina Tobacco Road and the Ottawa Rock & Roll Rebels. He has remained active in CRFC Old Boys matches through the years, having last played 15s in 2015, and is not convinced he needs to retire quite yet.
Coach Joe believes that Rugby has the most unique combination and inter-dependence of strength, speed, and physicality of any sport. He has watched how the game has evolved from his days as a player, how the sport has grown in the US during that time, and studied the techniques and tactics of the modern era. From this, he has built a coaching philosophy that focuses on combining the strengths and skills of the individual players to execute the team strategies that result in success on the field, while also building stronger, smarter human beings who will continue to play and grow the sport we love.
Coach Joe started playing rugby at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, in 1983, serving 2 years as captain, and representing the NY Collegiate Select Side in 1985. During his playing career he has spent time with numerous men’s clubs in New York, Michigan, and North Carolina, including the Detroit Tradesmen and Charlotte Olde Originals / Charlotte Rugby Football Club. He has won Regional Select Side tournaments as a member of North Carolina and Michigan State Representative sides, been included in the Southeast Regional Select Side, as well as numerous invitational sides including North Carolina Tobacco Road and the Ottawa Rock & Roll Rebels. He has remained active in CRFC Old Boys matches through the years, having last played 15s in 2015, and is not convinced he needs to retire quite yet.
Coach Joe believes that Rugby has the most unique combination and inter-dependence of strength, speed, and physicality of any sport. He has watched how the game has evolved from his days as a player, how the sport has grown in the US during that time, and studied the techniques and tactics of the modern era. From this, he has built a coaching philosophy that focuses on combining the strengths and skills of the individual players to execute the team strategies that result in success on the field, while also building stronger, smarter human beings who will continue to play and grow the sport we love.
Assistant Coach (Backs): Eddie Conz
Eddie Conz is in his second year with the USC Rugby Club after spending the past few seasons with W.A. Hough High School in Cornelius, NC. He was the back’s coach from 2016-2018 and took over as the head coach for the 2019 season. While at W.A. Hough the staff enjoyed consistent success ending two of the previous 3 seasons ranked in the top 50 nationally. He has also coached backs on the North Carolina High School All-Stars staff the previous two years as well as local high school club rugby.
“Conz” was first introduced to rugby in high school. He headed to college with ambitions of playing baseball at the next level, and like so many others fell in love with rugby, and ended up playing his college career at Western Michigan University. He primarily played scrum half, but is most proud of his 7’s matches at hooker so he can officially say he played in the pack (sort of). He also had the opportunity to play Michigan Select Side as well as spend time with the Kalamazoo Dogs Men’s Club. He then became a journeyman tournament player, or assassin for hire if you ask him.
He has thoroughly enjoyed teaching young men and women the game of rugby and he’s looking forward to adding to the great tradition and success of the Gamecock’s rugby program.
“Conz” was first introduced to rugby in high school. He headed to college with ambitions of playing baseball at the next level, and like so many others fell in love with rugby, and ended up playing his college career at Western Michigan University. He primarily played scrum half, but is most proud of his 7’s matches at hooker so he can officially say he played in the pack (sort of). He also had the opportunity to play Michigan Select Side as well as spend time with the Kalamazoo Dogs Men’s Club. He then became a journeyman tournament player, or assassin for hire if you ask him.
He has thoroughly enjoyed teaching young men and women the game of rugby and he’s looking forward to adding to the great tradition and success of the Gamecock’s rugby program.
Assistant Coach (Backs): Kevin Frontz
A native of Tiffin, Ohio, Kevin Frontz graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1982 and was a member of the men's rugby team all four years. While at BGSU, Coach Frontz played several positions, though found his home at scrumhalf while serving as the program's captain and president his senior year, the same year they were crowned Ohio College Champions.
Following graduation, Coach Frontz continued his rugby career for another 11 years at the senior level, his last team being Columbia Olde Grey from 86'-93'. In 2007, Coach Frontz rekindled his rugby career with the founding of the Gilbert High School Rugby team, in his hometown of Gilbert, SC, serving as Head Coach for the first five seasons. In their inaugural season, he led the team to an undefeated record and the State Championship title. Coach Frontz would go on to earn two more state titles in 2009 and 2010, representing South Carolina High School Rugby in the 2009 USA Rugby South Playoffs, finishing Runner-up.
Coach Frontz enjoyed working with his young players and watching them grow and mature in the game of rugby. He often credits the friendships he has made along the way as more important than any game or championship his team has earned. With that same enthusiasm for the game, Coach Frontz joined the coaching staff at USC beginning in the fall of 2013 to assist with the development of the Reserve Side and Developmental Side backs.
Following graduation, Coach Frontz continued his rugby career for another 11 years at the senior level, his last team being Columbia Olde Grey from 86'-93'. In 2007, Coach Frontz rekindled his rugby career with the founding of the Gilbert High School Rugby team, in his hometown of Gilbert, SC, serving as Head Coach for the first five seasons. In their inaugural season, he led the team to an undefeated record and the State Championship title. Coach Frontz would go on to earn two more state titles in 2009 and 2010, representing South Carolina High School Rugby in the 2009 USA Rugby South Playoffs, finishing Runner-up.
Coach Frontz enjoyed working with his young players and watching them grow and mature in the game of rugby. He often credits the friendships he has made along the way as more important than any game or championship his team has earned. With that same enthusiasm for the game, Coach Frontz joined the coaching staff at USC beginning in the fall of 2013 to assist with the development of the Reserve Side and Developmental Side backs.
Assistant Coach (Statistician): Scott Blanchfield
A native New Jersian, Scott Blanchfield did not discover rugby until my early 30's when he joined the Columbia Olde Grey men’s team, playing as a lock. Prior to rugby, Coach Blanchfield coached various sports over the years to include both basketball and baseball at the recreation league level, and, most recently, serving two years as the assistant coach for the Dutch Fork High School Lacrosse team.
Beginning in the fall of 2015, Coach Blanchfield joined the coaching staff at USC to assist with the analysis of match play and the assessment of new player development. He can also be seen assisting in the development of the Reserve Side and Developmental Side forwards.
Beginning in the fall of 2015, Coach Blanchfield joined the coaching staff at USC to assist with the analysis of match play and the assessment of new player development. He can also be seen assisting in the development of the Reserve Side and Developmental Side forwards.
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