Behind every great team is a great coach – the same can be said for the Mizzou rugby team and coach Don Corwin. The past season was triumphant for the team, with Mizzou rugby making it to nationals for the first time in 10 years. The extended knowledge Corwin has for rugby and the team’s hard work made for a mutual success. Corwin has been involved with rugby for a majority of his life.

 

“I played in the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s, the 2000s, the 2010s. Five decades I’ve played competitive rugby,” coach Corwin said.

 

Whether it was playing, refereeing or coaching, the amount of experience Corwin possesses gave credibility to his coaching. Years of playing gave him knowledge of how to play the game. Corwin’s time refereeing helped him observe the sport in an unbiased, technical way. Finally, coaching combined the skills acquired from playing and refereeing and made him able to train players on the Mizzou rugby team.

 

“I think in some ways it just kind of makes them go: ‘He doesn’t just talk the talk. He walks the walk,’” Corwin said.

 

During his career as a rugby player, Corwin got injured and had to get his hip replaced. This surgery made him unable to run or play rugby for about two years. The incapability of staying active with rugby made Corwin miserable, until one day University of Missouri student Conor Strauss called him with a proposal. Strauss wanted to reinvigorate Mizzou rugby, but the only problem was they did not have a coach. Strauss reached out to Corwin about an opportunity to coach the team and Corwin gladly accepted.

 

“Conor called me out of the clear blue and said ‘Hey we don’t have a coach would you consider coaching?’ and I went ‘Yeah, I sure would!’ because I wanted to get back in the game some way,” Corwin said.

 

Although Corwin was no longer playing rugby, coaching gave him the opportunity to help players improve their rugby skills. Through coaching, Corwin can guide players and tell them what they are doing wrong. He likes the fact that he can have a one-on-one relationship with each of the players on Mizzou’s rugby team.

 

“I’ve kind of always been taking players under my wing and showing them what they should be or should not be doing,” Corwin said.

 

Corwin’s passion for rugby and his aptitude for coaching resonated with players on the Mizzou rugby team. Players have seen their own skills improve under coach Corwin’s direction.

 

“Coach Don has made me a ten times better than I was before,” freshman player Dubem Ikedi said.

 

Corwin’s standing in the world of rugby has left him with a respected legacy. Sadly, Corwin’s rugby legacy cannot be continued within his family. Corwin’s son, Patrick, has a disability that left him unable to play rugby. However, that does not mean Patrick has not found a different activity to be eager about. Corwin has been supportive of Patrick’s participation in the Special Olympics and even encouraged him to pursue being a triathlete.

 

“Patrick can’t [play rugby]. He’s a Special Olympic athlete; he’s a special kid. But, I got him into triathlon and he is a triathlete. He trains, he cycles, he runs, he swims and he loves it,” Corwin said.

 

Corwin’s son has found a way to stay active in his life, but Corwin still wishes he could see his son follow in his footsteps. Unfortunately, the sport of rugby is not a sport at the Special Olympics.

 

“I would love to have him play rugby and I would have encouraged it, but there is no Special Olympic rugby,” Corwin said.