Our Coaches.

Our Coaching Team

Experience across youth, collegiate, professional and international rugby. Team assignments for 2027 will be announced once confirmed.

• Adriaan Ferris

  Director of Rugby · High Performance · Coach Education · International Rugby

  Adriaan is a World Rugby Trainer and Coach Educator and former Northland Taniwha NPC Head Coach, with international rugby experience with Fiji, Tonga and USA Falcons. Originally from New Zealand, his background includes four years as a New Zealand U20 selector, pathways development in New Zealand and internationally, and leading Life West’s rugby program. As Grizzlies Director of Rugby, he brings together high performance coaching, talent identification and coach education to support players and coaches taking their next steps in the game.

• Neil Foote

  Player Development · Collegiate · All Star Representative Rugby

  With a playing background in NPC rugby, Neil brings international and collegiate coaching experience to the Grizzlies. He became Head Coach of UC Santa Barbara in 2021, building a program that develops both experienced players and athletes new to rugby. His work includes teaching core skills and training habits as players adapt to collegiate competition. Neil has been part of the Grizzlies coaching staff since the 2022 collegiate All Star tour of Argentina, connecting his college coaching experience with representative rugby opportunities.

• Paul Keeler

  Collegiate · Professional Rugby

  Paul brings coaching experience across collegiate, professional and international rugby, with Super League titles at SFGG and roles with Santa Clara University, the San Francisco Rush and USA A representative teams. He led the Grizzlies U23 coaching group on the 2022 Argentina tour, connecting emerging players with the challenges of international competition. His background spans the transition from college rugby into senior representative and professional environments, giving Grizzlies players a broad perspective on the standards, preparation and teamwork required at the next level.

• Ray Lehner

  Youth Development · Representative Rugby

  Ray brings international playing experience and decades of coaching to the development of young rugby players. A former USA Eagle with 37 caps, he represented his country at the 1999 Rugby World Cup and won three consecutive national championships as a player at Cal. His coaching experience spans school, collegiate and representative rugby, including leading the USA U20s and working with the Collegiate All-Americans. With the Grizzlies, he led the U16 boys to the 2024 Great Northwest Challenge title. That breadth of experience connects the foundations of youth rugby with the demands of the international game.

• Chris Miller (2027)

  High Performance · High School Player Development

  Chris combines an accomplished international playing background with a record of success at the highest levels of high school rugby. A former Cal All-American, national champion and USA Eagle, he guided Granite Bay to the 2022 Boys High School Club National Championship. His work has established him among Northern California’s leading high school coaches, with success on the national stage. His approach emphasizes player development, game understanding and the confidence to take ownership on the field, using film analysis and purposeful preparation to help young athletes grow. His players have progressed into collegiate rugby, including Cal’s nationally competitive program.

• Marshall Ferris

  Collegiate Coaching · Tour Experience · Player and Skill Development

  Marshall is Head Coach of the Life West men’s program, following his progression from Assistant Coach to Head Coach at Southern Virginia University. His background also includes leading Life West Women’s 7s and assisting their 15s program. He focuses on individual skills, backline development and preparing players for higher levels of rugby. Marshall has attended every Grizzlies tour since the program began, including U23 tours to Argentina and Chile, and helped coach the Grizzlies U19 teams to Great Northwest Challenge titles in 2024, 2025 and 2026. He brings extensive tour experience and a commitment to developing character alongside rugby ability.

• Devereaux Ferris

  International Playing Experience · Professional Rugby

  A capped USA Eagle, Devereaux brings experience from New Zealand development pathways through to professional and international rugby. His background includes Northland’s age-grade and academy programs, Life West and Major League Rugby with the San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves, NOLA Gold and Houston SaberCats. He has represented the USA Men’s Selects and made his Test debut against Samoa in 2018. A specialist scrum-half, he brings a player’s perspective on communication, distribution and decisions under pressure. His journey across New Zealand and American rugby gives Grizzlies players insight into progressing through development systems and adapting to higher levels of competition.

• Nikki Kenyon

  International Rugby · 7s · Touch

  Nikki brings experience across international 15s, professional 7s and national representative touch rugby. She represented the USA Eagles in 15s, was in the USA 7s Residency Program and has played for Life West, Seattle and Premier Rugby 7s. Selected for the USA Mixed Open team for the 2024 Touch World Cup, she has also been appointed Assistant Coach of the Vietnamese Women’s 7s team. Her background connects grassroots club rugby with national and professional opportunities, giving Grizzlies players insight into the skills, adaptability and commitment needed to progress across different forms of the game.

• Grace Martin

  Girls’ Varsity · Collegiate Rugby

  Grace brings girls’ varsity coaching experience alongside a playing background that spans youth, representative and collegiate rugby. She captained the Pleasanton Cavaliers, earned NorCal All Star selection and went on to play collegiate rugby at Quinnipiac. That journey gives her a personal understanding of the transition from high school competition to the demands of the college game. Within the Grizzlies coaching group, she brings that perspective to girls’ player development, drawing on her experience of team leadership and taking the next step in rugby.

• Rudi Leibbrandt

  Youth Player Development · High Performance Rugby

  Originally from South Africa, Rudi focuses on player pathway systems and team performance coaching at the high school level. His work includes helping develop individual player statistics and data sets to support player development. By connecting player information with practical coaching, he brings an analytical perspective to understanding progress and identifying development priorities. Within the Grizzlies coaching group, his background links the needs of individual players with the wider demands of team performance and progression through the rugby pathway.

• Cam Younger

  Youth Development · High School Rugby

  Cam brings years of coaching experience with Danville Oaks, from U8 and U10 rugby through middle school, and currently coaches varsity boys rugby. His background spans introducing young players to the game and supporting their progression through successive age groups. That breadth gives him a long-term perspective on how players build their skills and adjust to the demands of high school competition. He brings that understanding to the Grizzlies, connecting early rugby development with the next steps into representative environments.

• Angelina Lomu

  Girls’ Rugby Development

  Lina is an experienced rugby player, referee and coach from East Palo Alto whose background spans club and representative rugby. She has won multiple national championship titles with Life West, played for EPA, SFGG and Life West, and represented Northern California All Star teams. Her involvement as both a player and referee brings complementary perspectives on the game to her coaching. Through Rugby with Purpose, she supports the growth of girls’ rugby in Northern California, connecting her competitive experience with opportunities for the next generation of players.

• Janet Miramontes

  Girls’ Rugby · High School Coaching · Player Development

  Janet is Head Coach of varsity rugby at Carondelet High School and works with Rugby NorCal as a competition manager for youth and high school girls’ rugby. Her coaching background includes Carondelet’s JV and varsity programs, with success in Rugby NorCal 7s and 10s competition. She focuses on helping players new to rugby develop skills, confidence and a sense of belonging, creating an inclusive environment where girls can learn and grow in the game.

• Moses Similai

  High School Coaching · Player Development

  Moses brings school, club and representative coaching experience from across Northern California. He has coached with Peninsula Green and the NorCal Boys All Stars and helped establish Serra High School’s rugby program. That background connects high school player development with opportunities in representative rugby.

• Bob Benson

  Youth Development · Representative Rugby

  Bob brings more than 20 years of youth and high school coaching and administration experience with Peninsula Green. His background includes coaching Rugby NorCal All Star teams on international tours, managing the USA High School All Americans and helping establish Serra High School’s rugby program.

• Alan Petty

  Youth Development · Club Rugby

  Alan brings decades of coaching experience across school and club rugby. A former player with Long Beach State, Cal and the Old Blues, he has coached at Lamorinda, Piner High School, Elsie Allen and Santa Rosa Rugby Club. His coaching record includes league, state and Northern California championships.

• Ryan Burke

  Youth Development · U16 Representative Rugby

  Ryan brings a long background in youth rugby coaching and program leadership. His 2026 Grizzlies involvement includes the Boys U16 program and Great Northwest Challenge preparations. His experience spans coaching young players and supporting the team structures that help them access representative rugby.

• Simon Davis

  Youth Development · U16 Rugby

  Simon brings coaching experience from junior age groups through to U16 representative rugby. His background includes coaching U10 players, and he joined the Grizzlies U16 coaching group for the 2026 Montana program. That experience connects the early stages of learning the game with the demands of representative competition.

• Lucio Gomez

  High School Rugby · U16 Player Development

  Lucio brings high school varsity assistant coaching experience alongside his work with U16 players. He was part of the Grizzlies Boys U16 coaching group for the 2026 Great Northwest Challenge program. His background connects school-age rugby with opportunities for players to develop in a representative environment.

• Alex Sleightholme

  Middle School Rugby · All Star Selection

  Alex works with middle school players and contributed to the Grizzlies’ 2026 Middle School All Star coaching and selection process. His work included assessing match performances, considering positional strengths and helping shape the representative squad. He brings a practical understanding of young players as they take their first steps into All Star rugby.

Coaches · 2027

Coaching appointments for 2027 are still to be confirmed. We welcome expressions of interest from coaches who would like to contribute to a team or develop through the Grizzlies coaching pathway.