Our History
Our Founders
Sandy Frazier arrived at the University of South Carolina in the fall of 1967, joining ranks with the Fort Jackson Rugby team as their captain for the fall season. Frazier realized his player pool was being deployed to Vietnam, so in November of 1967 he met USC’s administration requirements to recruit and gain signatures of 20 founding players in order to establish the USC Men’s Rugby Football Club, USC’s first sports club.
In the spring of 1968, Frazier lead USC as its first captain and player coach in 10 matches. A year later at the Duke 7’s tournament, Frazier met Dr. James Wynn who was moving from Richmond, VA to Columbia, SC in the fall. Wynn was a seasoned rugger schooled by Rhodesian coach, Basil Nesbitt, who grounded him in the fundamentals and finer nuances of Rugby.
With the arrival of Coach Wynn, USC came into national prominence, as he brought coaching expertise that taught the basic fundamentals while incorporating rugby finesse. After an average first year, 7-7 in 1969-70, USC went on a 3 year run of 18-5, 18-3, and 20-3-1 while enjoying a 37 home game winning streak, playing twice in the National Collegiate Rugby Championships and placing 5th both times. Carolina Rugby's foundation had been set by Sandy Frazier and Dr. James Wynn.
Coaches
Sandy Frazier was the original player coach, though Frazier recruited Dr. James Wynn in 1969 as the new head coach, unknowingly setting the bar of excellence to which all future teams would aspire to and measure themselves against.
When Coach Wynn’s family came along, he stepped down, and Rich Trauger recruited Jean Pierre Chambas in 1975 to coach the team. Coach Pierre’s teams were fierce and played with a tenacious competiveness taught by their acclaimed French coach. The team enjoyed many years of success until Coach Pierre stepped down in 1982.
With Jean Pierre’s departure, Carolina Rugby turned to an era of players, alumni, and Columbia Olde Grey Rugby retirees that would help coach:
1982–1985: Geoff Mason, Mark Rockefeller, Bruce Wilson
1985-1987: Tony Ferguson
1987-1988: Kenny Poerstel, Jeff Smolka
1988-1989: Chris Murphy, Kim Pipkin, Rob Balmer
After 1990, Carolina Rugby was coached by a number of USC and Columbia Olde Grey alumni that obtained USA Rugby coaching accreditation and training whiling giving back to the game:
1989-1992, 1995, 2001-2003: Howard Hunt
1992-1994, 2003-2011: Geoff Mason
1996-1999: Mark Miltner
1999-2002, 2008: Jeff Smolka
2011-2018: Mark Morris (15’s)
2013-2018: Steve Darnell (7’s)
2018: Steve Darnell (15's & 7’s)
2019: Eddie Conz (15's & 7's)
2020-21: Joe Carey (15's and 7's)
2021-present: John Roberts
Captains
Carolina Rugby has a legacy of strong leadership and captains that have led USC to numerous state championships, regional playoffs and championships, tournament victories, and National Collegiate Championship Playoffs. These Captains inspired greatness on the pitch and, as a result, numerous players have gone on to play select side for the state, Rugby South, Southeastern Collegiate Rugby, East Coast, Junior Eagles, and National Team:
1968-69: Sandy Frazier
1969-73: Dr. James Wynn
1972-73: Paul Salvatore, Lee Boyle
1973-74: Ed Hughes
1974-75: E. W. Bazzell, Sam Mabry
1975-76: Tim Brophy, E. W. Bazzell
1976-77: William Smith
1977-78: Rich Trauger
1978-79: Jim Pond
1979-80: Mark Morris
1980-84: Geoff Mason
1984-86: Mark Rockefeller, Bruce Wilson
1986-87: Kenny Poerstel , Billy Walker
1987-88: Kenny Poerstel, Jeff Smolka, Rob Balmer
1988-89: Rob Balmer, Warren Mottley, Chris Murphy, Kim Pipkin
1990-91: Chris Murphy
1991-92: Brad Muller
1992-93: Todd Lacey
1993-94: Josh Jacobs
1994-95: Mike Artlip
1995-96: Kenny Puckett, Jonathan Dancer
1996-97: Brian Garris, Keith Quiller, Kelly Grant
1997-98: Ron Stephany
1998-99: Dan Gunderman
1999-00: Brent Keener
2000-01: Michael Cook, Santiago Aragon
2001-02: Stu Graham
2002-03: Chris Shaeffer, Justin Czerski
2003-04: Justin Czerski
2004-05: Justin Czerski, James Larson, Michael Carreon
2005-06: James Larson, Andrew Czerski, Chad Baum
2006-07: Joseph Vellon, Marcus Staton, Aviv Shamah, Erik Geib
2007-08: Joseph Vellon, Aviv Shamah, Erik Geib
2008-09: Glenn Tabasko, Anthony Hughes
2009-10: Anthony Hughes
2010: Calvin Story
2011-12: Tom Plumley, Rob Davilla
2012-13: Tim Holkenborg
2013-14: Matt Berenato
2014-15: Tim Hamill, Zac Gorman
2015-16: Tim Hamill
2017-18: Christian Harrell, Thomas Coar, Micah Stewart
2018-19: Micah Stewart
2020-22: John Golden
2023-24: Grant Howard, Dan Golden