USA Rugby Women’s Eagles Sevens coaching and support staff has been confirmed for the upcoming 2025-2026 season.
Head Coach, Emilie Bydwell and team have added leadership to bolster the current expertise and strengthen the squad heading into the upcoming sevens circuit and for the duration of the LA28 quad.
Excited about the season ahead and ready to kick off in Dubai, Bydwell commented;
“As we enter the ‘framing year’ of our LA Olympic quad, our focus is clear: execute an effective, adaptive, and innovative game model that maximizes our unique strengths and positions us to win the future game. The 2025 season gave us a deeper understanding of the player group we’ll take to LA, along with valuable insight into how the global game continues to evolve.
"2026 becomes the year we define our identity and establish our competitive advantages, cementing our shared purpose and values, and embedding the antifragility required to unite and perform under pressure. With the additional financial support of the Michelle Kang donation, we’ve been able to bolster our staff with expertise that will elevate each athlete within the environment and, in turn, strengthen the team as a whole.
"This is a critical step in ensuring we are building a system and a culture capable of delivering not only sustained success, but a repeat podium performance at our home Olympic Games in 2028.”
"Building the right staff framework for this phase of the quad was a central priority, ensuring the program has the specialist insight, technical detail, and daily coaching depth required to accelerate both team and individual growth. The expanded structure gives athletes increased access to coaches with distinct expertise and fresh perspectives that will elevate our daily training environment and long‑term development."
Tony Roques joins as Assistant Coach after most recently serving as Head Coach of the GB Men’s program, where he guided the team to a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics. His international experience and ability to view the game through a different lens add significant depth to our strategic evolution.
Charlie Purdon enters as Technical & Individual Development Plan Skills Coach, bringing a proven record of advancing player development through an individualized, creative, and player-centered approach. USA Eagle and Rio 2016 Olympian Ben Pinkelman arrives as a Support Coach, contributing a distinctive insight and understanding of the game that will enhance our on‑field growth.
Former Sevens Eagle and Stanford Assistant Coach Irene Gardner continues to lead the women’s Sevens pathway teams, focusing on developing the Brisbane 2032 pool and identifying athletes capable of contributing immediately to the 2028 LA campaign. She is supported by Olympic alum and former Sevens captain Kelly Griffin; together, they strengthen our connection to the pipeline and ensure emerging talent progresses through a consistent, high‑quality system.
The technical and athletic performance staff continue to provide a strong and cohesive foundation, maintaining expertise to meet the evolving demands of the World Series. Trey Ford remains as Head of Athletic Performance, playing a pivotal role in the team’s physical readiness and overall performance standards. His leadership was instrumental in the squad’s success in Paris, and he continues to refine and elevate the team’s internal processes and preparation to align with the evolving game model. Lauren Barber continues as Performance Analyst, ensuring the team benefits from critical data-driven insights, game trends and detailed opposition analysis. Ashley Morataya provides continued support as Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach, reinforcing the daily physical preparation of the group.
With athlete health and recovery central to sustained performance, Nicole Titmas continues as Head of Athlete Health & Wellness, bringing more than a decade of service and leading the integrated medical and wellness systems that support daily performance. She oversees medical services, strengthens the processes that guide injury prevention and return to play, and ensures that health and wellness planning is aligned with individual development and performance needs. Meghan Chambers joins as Rehab Specialist, adding expertise in recovery and injury management, while Jackie Rodriguez returns as Athletic Trainer, providing essential on-field care for the senior 7s programs and delivering consistent, high-quality support across the pathway teams to ensure alignment of process and standards. Jacque Scaramella remains as Team Dietitian, guiding optimal nutrition and fueling strategies to support training, recovery, and travel demands.
Peter Haberl continues his vital role as the team’s Sport Psychologist, supporting both individual and team preparation, fostering psychological flexibility, and equipping athletes with the skills needed to exhibit antifragility under pressure.
Binding the team together, the logistical backbone of the program remains with the expertise of Liz Strohecker managing team operations, guiding all team logistics with support from Maria Adams who joined the set up last season as the High Performance Operations Coordinator.
With this strengthened support structure guiding the team with the critical funding from Michele Kang following the Paris Games, the USA Women's Sevens Eagles are poised and confident in their bid for the upcoming season and ultimately, the Olympic Games 2028.
Emilie Bydwell | Head Coach
Tony Roques | Assistant Coach
Charlie Purdon | Technical & IDP Skills Coach
Ben Pinkelman | Support Coach
Lauren Barber | Performance Analyst
Trey Ford | Head of Athletic Performance
Ashley Morataya | Assistant S&C
Nicole Titmas | Head of Athlete Health & Wellness / Head ATC
Meghan Chambers | Rehab Specialist
Jackie Rodriguez | Athletic Trainer
Jacque Scaramella | Dietician
Peter Haberl | Sport Psychologist
Liz Strohecker | Head of High Performance Operations - 7s
Maria Adams | High Performance Operations Coordinator - 7s
Jenni Burke | High Performance Communications Manager
