Norwich University Men's Rugby Seeks Head Coach

05.12.2026College Men

Author: Alex Goff

Norwich University's men's rugby program is looking for a new Head Coach.

Longtime and legendary Head Coach Bob Weggler retired this spring, and the program, one of the most consistently strong in men's D2 college rugby, is looking to fill his enormous shoes.

Bob Weggler has been involved with rugby since 1973, playing in his first-ever game for Old Blue (New York) while a junior in high school, and he has been coaching for over 40 years, with stints at Cornell University, Amherst College, Colby College, and, for the last 25 years, Norwich.

On Saturday, May 30th the Norwich and Scrum Alum communities will gather to recognize and thank Bob Weggler for his service to the University and to the rugby program.

Norwich University is located in Northfield, Vt. It is a private military university and was the birthplace of the ROTC program. The men's rugby program competes in the NACR (North Atlantic Collegiate Rugby) conference under NCR in D2. Also in that conference are Coast Guard, U. New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Boston University, and UMass Lowell.

Norwich plays about 10 to 14 games of 15s in the fall and 7s in the spring.

This is a full-time position that covers the entire school year.

For full details on the position, go here>>

Coach Bob Weggler has been involved with rugby since 1973, playing in his first-ever game for Old Blue (New York) while a junior in high school at the age of sixteen.

As a Cornell undergrad, Weggler competed on the first side for four years, capturing the Upstate Rugby Union title as a freshman at number 8. In his sophomore year, he was selected to the Upstate Rugby Union Select Side, competing against the London Scottish in New York City. As a club player for Old Blue, Weggler competed in three national Final Four Division I Club Championships (1980, ’81, ’86).

Weggler has over 41 years of collegiate coaching experience, including stints at Cornell University, Amherst College, Colby College (leading them to back-to-back Final Fours in 1999 and 2000), and Norwich University, where he began in the fall of 2001. He has guided the Cadets to unprecedented success, winning five straight conference 15s titles and three straight 7s league titles.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in fall 2020, Weggler and Norwich’s rugby alumni group, Scrum Alums, launched a fundraising campaign that led to the construction of a new rugby clubhouse. In September 2021, Norwich held its 50th Year Celebration and cut the ribbon on the new facility. That fall, Norwich reached the NCR Final Four in Houston, Texas, finishing third in the nation after defeating Northern Iowa in the consolation match.

Under Weggler’s leadership, Norwich has qualified for 15 national tournament appearances across 15s and 7s, including third-place national finishes in 2016, 2017, 2021, and 2024, and a fourth-place finish in 2019. Between 2016 and 2019, Norwich won a program-record 21 consecutive conference matches and compiled a 41-8 record in 15s.

Since joining National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) in 2021, Norwich has made four straight Sweet 16s and Elite 8s, along with two Final Fours (2021, 2024). Multiple Cadets have been selected to NCR’s Collegiate All-Star Weekend each year since its inception.

Weggler has guided Norwich to nine USA Rugby Collegiate Division II 15s National Tournament appearances (2013, 2016–2019, and from 2021–2024) and one Division I appearance (2004). In 7s, Norwich has captured 12 titles, including multiple Chris Munn 7s, NEWCRC 7s, and the 2019 Ariel Re Bermuda 7s. Most recently, the Cadets reached the Bermuda 7s final in 2025 after defeating Harvard and Maryland before falling to Bermuda’s national side.

Weggler’s commitment to international exposure has seen Norwich travel extensively, including many times with Irish Rugby Tours. Trips include Ireland (2004, 2011, 2018, 2025), England and Wales (2015), and England and Scotland (2023), with both men’s and women’s teams participating in the most recent Ireland tour.