John Roberts -- men's head coach/rugby club advisor
John is a Level II certified coach by USA Rugby and has played competitive rugby for 13 years. A native of Spartanburg, John began playing rugby in 1987 while a sophomore at the University of South Carolina. He was named to the All-South Select Collegian Squad (89-90) as a prop and hooker. A journalism major, John also served as president of the USC rugby team (1989-90).
After college, John played for the Augusta (Ga.) Rugby Football team, one of the top teams in the South at the time, from 1991-93. After leaving Augusta, John helped reform the Greenville Griffins Rugby Club, which had disbanded two years earlier.
John served as president of the Griffins from 1994-96 and was a regular starter until nagging injuries and growing family commitments preceded his retirement from the game in spring 1998. His last game time as full-time player was logged against Huntington Beach, California during the Griffins May, 1998 trip to the National Sweet 16 Tournament in Chicago.
John joined the Furman Marketing and Public Relations Department in 1997 where is currently director or internal and electronic communications. He helped found the Paladins rugby teams in 1998.
In addition to coaching, John is an active member of the USC alumni rugby club -- The Carolina Olde Boys (C.O.B.) John and his wife, Lisa (a Furman graduate) have three children, a son and two daughters. His son, Zachary (11) enjoys travelling with the team. | 
