USU Rugby

In the winter of 1996, a group of five women concluded that Utah State University was in need of a Women's Rugby team. The spark ignited due to outside exposure of the game through friends and family. The women decided that they wanted to play and researched what it would require for them to form a club. In order to be a recognized club sport by the univeristy, the women needed to show viability for the club extending for one year. They were also required to attain a dedicated coach. Dennis Kohler was asked to coach the new team, and has been doing so ever since. After the first year of existence the team would be recognized and eligible for club sports funding.

The women concluded to begin the club and recruited enough women to form a team. During that first season the team played teams from BYU, Park City, Pocatello, and Boise.

Some special notes of interest from that first season include the team nickname and the teams jerseys. The team officially received their nickname, Logan Steve, when Grace Ohweiler was late to a practice because her car had broken down in the canyon and a guy named Steve stopped to help her. Her crazy, but well-loved, personality sparked the idea of Logan Steve as the nickname.

The team also received their first set of jersey's during that first season. Initially the team played in black t-shirts because they didn't have any funding for jersey's. After fundraising events of digging fence-post holes, spring cleaning yards, and cleaning store fixtures, the team was able to buy blue jerseys with white collars, black shorts and socks of any color.

Only with the dedication of the coaching staff and a core of women did the team remain strong. There have been seasons of 10-15 players, but with time the team has grown to be a strong program that has benefitted hundreds of women over the years.

Congratulations to the 2003-2004 USU Women's Rugby Team for taking 5th place in the Elite Eight National Playoffs held in Cleveland Ohio!!