PROVO — BYU’s men’s rugby players were caught off guard recently when the entire coaching staff resigned abruptly.
Head coach David Smyth and assistant coach Wayne Tarawhiti, who helped lead the Cougars to national championships in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, decided to step down and announced it to their players in a team meeting.
“I was shocked,” said center Jacob McKay.
Meanwhile, the search for a new coaching staff is underway. Smyth had been guiding the Cougar rugby program since 1990.
“Last week, our coaches all called us into a meeting. Only five or six of us showed up because I think everyone’s gone for summer vacation," McKay said.