Before arriving at Arkansas State, Shaw served as Head of Physical Performance for Rugby Club Lokomotiv Penza in Russia and previously worked with the Golden Lions Rugby Union in Johannesburg, South Africa where he was involved in the physical preparation and development of elite U18 players. He also spent four years as Head of Physical Performance at Jeppe High School for Boys, one of South Africa's prominent rugby-playing schools.
His high-performance background also includes work as a GPS Analyst with the South African Springboks during the 2015 Rugby Championship and Rugby World Cup, where he monitored player loads, high-speed running, repeated high-intensity efforts, and other performance metrics. Shaw has additionally provided sports science support to organizations including Northampton Saints, Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, Bristol Rugby, and several professional soccer clubs in the United Kingdom.
At Lindenwood, Shaw will bring expertise in defense, breakdown, performance analysis, and rugby-specific speed and power development.
"Dominic has spent his career looking at player development from every angle," Macy added. "He can sit in a coaches meeting and talk tactics, work with an athlete on the field, interpret GPS and performance data, understand the physical demands of training, recruit, mentor players, and handle the administrative work that makes a college program function. That versatility is going to make our entire staff better."
Shaw said his coaching philosophy centers on creating a selfless culture, growth mindset and accountability, while building teams recognized for physicality, speed, work rate and strong fundamentals. He also emphasized using rugby as a vehicle for developing people and creating an exceptional student-athlete experience.
"I believe growing good people is paramount to the success of any organization," Shaw wrote in his application to Lindenwood. He added that his experience has included developing athletes from the high school through university and provincial levels, managing multidisciplinary performance teams, and helping players navigate the transition from U18 rugby toward the professional game.
Shaw holds a Master of Science in Exercise Science from Arkansas State University, where he earned a 4.0 GPA, and a First-Class Honours degree in Sports Science and Rugby from the University of South Wales. He is also a World Rugby Level 3 Rugby Coach and completed the Crusaders Coaching Leadership Programme in 2023.
"The opportunity to add someone who has already led a nationally competitive D1A program does not come around often," Macy said. "Dominic knows our level, knows our opponents, and understands the expectations that come with competing for championships. We're excited to bring his experience into our environment and excited about what he can help us build next."
