The new-look Men’s Collegiate All American process is now underway as the first of the National Tracking Camps is happening in New York.

New MCAA Head Coach Gavin Hickie will be relying on the good word of coaches from around the country to recommend players, and the eyes of many of those coaches to help look at players for this year’s All Americans, but next year’s, too, and the Junior All Americans.

The job, for Hickie, is another step for the Irish-born former pro player who moved to the USA some years ago to play and coach. Hickie replaced Alex Magleby as Dartmouth Head Coach, and has made no secret that he wants to coach at a high level.

“It’s a dream come true to be a head coach of a national side,” said the former hooker. “It’s also all part of my plan. I’ve played club rugby here in the States with Belmont Shore. I have coach high school players and college players, and I know what it takes to play at a high level and I understand the pathway in America.”

Hickie is now working that pathway, with his predecessor at Dartmouth (the two still work together in Hanover) Alex Magleby handling the national team player ID aspect. 

“We want to find guys who are in the more remote programs,” said Hickie. “But to do that requires a buy-in from coaches and players.”

There’s a need for trust there. For too long many college coaches have felt that it’s an uphill battle to get some players looked at, even though players from “remote” programs and DII colleges get picked for national teams all the time (witness Martin Iosefo, Matai Leuta, Ben Landry, Garrett Bender, and Zach Fenoglio, for example).

“Every collegiate player’s got a say in this,” said Hickie. “We want to hear from players and coaches, because we want to recognize the best athletes. We’re all pulling for a common goal, and we’re going to get more out of citing the net as wide as we an, and building relationships.”

So if you want to get a player looked at, email Hickie at gavin@lineoutcoach.com. He wanted to hear from you.

These tracking camps are for the All Americans, but they are also for the coaches. Hickie said he wants coaches to attend and observe - the better for them to get an idea of what the standard is.

“And as a nation we need to develop our coaches,” he said. “So it’s an open door to anyone who wants to come along.”