It's a long way from Stanford University to the US Military Academy at West Point, both in miles and, many might say, in culture.

But Matt Sherman has made the trip, trading in California summers for Upstate New York winters, and a well-support, but club, team that always struggled to match the athleticism of the other teams around it, to a varsity program that is awash in leaders and tough-minded athletes.

Sherman, who was an All American at Cal and was first capped by the USA in 2003, coached at San Diego State before moving on to Stanford. He also coached the All Americans. But this summer he and his wife took a big leap, and crossed the country to take on the West Point job after interim Head Coach Mike Mahan stepped down. Now he inherits a program that won the Rugby East last fall, but still has a frustraitingly tepid DIA playoff record.

"I know I have a lot to learn," said Sherman, who did not serve in the military. "This is a different place, with different systems and terminology. I've been a part of several different institutions, and there are challenges unique to each place, but West Point is more different - you have those tough academic standards and then all of the military requirements."

While Army graduated some top-flight players into the United States Army, the rugby program has a strong senior class, said Sherman.

"That's a great thing to inherit, and I am very impressed with them and the strength and culture of the team," said the coach. "Mike Mahan did a fantastic job last year; he left the team in a great place culturally. The players want to work hard, want to learn, and want to work hard for each other."

There's plenty of leadership on the squad, too. At West Point, ten cadets are chosen each year for important leadership positions in the school. This year, three of those cadets are on the rugby team. 

As far as getting the job done on the field, Sherman said the key is the work the basics. Army has often had a reputation of being a team that can hit you hard and a team that won't quit, but the skills side of the equation might not balance out. Sherman, a former flyhalf, will want those skills to be honed.

"No team can have enough work on the basic fundamentals, and we're like many teams in that our experience level is mixed, so basic skills, along with some systems things and how we want to play together, is our primary focus," said Sherman. "At least at the beginning we will keep it pretty simple. My own personal philosophy is that we need to build a pattern and process around the assets we have. West Point as an institution is one of the world leaders, if not the world leader, in leadership development. So our success model involves applying those attributes."

As a varsity program, Army Rugby is now able to recruit some students with rugby experience. But, said Sherman, that's not a free ticket to the starting lineup. He has encountered some impressive athletes from other sports, and noted that the players who go through the USMMA Prep School program get to West Point with a ton of desire. Sometimes, it's the player who really had to work for it who emerges on top.

For Army Rugby, of course, that lesson could apply to the entire program. The program was put on suspension in 2013, and during the ensuing investigation Director of Rugby Rich Polidahl lost his job. Mahan was brought in to re-boot the program in 2014, and then, as the West Point adminstration began to look at things a little closer, the decision was made to make the men's and women's programs varsity. (See more on that story here.) Mahan stayed on to guide the team through last season, but his plan was always to step away at some point. So having worked hard to exist at all, Army Rugby is now a varsity program with a new full-time coach. 

The new era starts this weekend, then, as the Black Knights host St. Bonavanture in the first weekend of Rugby East action. For the new coach, it's finally time to play.

"This is a different place," Sherman concluded, "but it's also a special place. I am pretty fortunate to be here."