The Midwest Region is excited to announce the coaching staff for the 2022 NCR All-Star competition this January in Houston: Jeramy Katchuba, Tyler Selleck, Joe Lippert, Hamish McCallion and Lance Houia.  This group is actively taking nominations from Midwest NCR clubs. 

The program is also currently seeking a team manager to assist with logistics and roster management.  If you are interested in this role, please reach out to any member of the coaching staff or Brad Dufek.  

Staff bios: 

Jeramy Katchuba (JKatchuba@duluthymca.org) lives in Duluth, Minn., and coaches the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.  Jeramy has been coaching UMD since 1999 and has helped guide the club to three 15’s national championships, one runner up, and a 7’s national championship in 2016.  In 2015 Jeramy was named one of USA Rugby’s coaches of the year and selected to be part of the Eagle Eye scouting team.  The University of Minnesota Duluth side has produced many collegiate All Americans, had four players play in Major League Rugby, and one player capped with the USA Eagles. Outside of his time on the rugby pitch, Jeramy loves spending time in the outdoors with his wife Gina and children Tui and Pia.

Tyler Selleck (tselleck@css.edu) lives in Duluth, Minn., and coaches for the College of St. Scholastica Rugby Club. Tyler has 13 years of rugby experience as a player, coach, and referee. He has helped coach the CSS men’s team to three conference titles and the women’s team to two. Tyler strives to spread rugby culture and is always looking for ways to be more involved in the growth of rugby in his community.

Joe Lippert is a native of Pittsville, Wisc. and has been involved with rugby for over eighteen years as a player, coach, referee, administrator and fan.  He is currently forwards coach at Iowa Central and has previously won national titles as head coach of the Wisconsin Rugby Club (D2 Men, 2013) and Lindenwood University-Belleville (D1AA 7s, 2019).  Other previous coaching positions include: Wisconsin Collegiate Selects, Iowa 7s Selects, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Stars Rugby 7s and McKendree University.  Joe is a proud Wisconsinite who enjoys the outdoors, travel, cheering on the Packers and spending quality time with his fiancée Grace.  

Hamish McCallion (mccallion@iowacentral.edu), a native of New Zealand, works at Iowa Central Community College as an Assistant Coach. He works primarily with the backline but has strong interest in attacking and defensive skill development. Prior to joining Iowa Central, McCallion served as an intern for Dartmouth College and was a graduate assistant at Central Washington. McCallion attended the University of Otago in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand where he earned his degree. He also earned degrees from Otago Polytechnic and Central Washington University. McCallion is excited to help talented young rugby players grow their skill sets and compete at an elite level.

Lance Houai (lhouia@gmail.com) is currently the head coach of Loyola University Rugby. Lance has over 45 years of rugby experience and 20+ years coaching.  Featuring a broad and wide-ranging series of experiences, Coach Houia is especially proud of his ability to build unity and cohesion on teams, as well as identify and improve specific weaknesses or shortcomings among teams and individuals.