Coaches & Staff

Head Coach

John Durant
Coach Durant has been involved with the UAlbany Rugby program as a player and coach since 1980. He led the Danes as captain for the 1981 season and then went on to play for the Albany Knickerbocker Rugby Club in 1982. He captained/vice captained the Knicks for 4 years as well as played Upstate Selects and Empire Games. He is a USA Rugby Certified coach and still plays in an occasional old boys game with the Knicks and UA Alumni.

Backfield Coach

Pete Zilgme
Coach Zilgme has been involved with the UAlbany Rugby program since 1980. He played at UAlbany in 1985 as a grad student after 4 years of rugby at Hofstra University. Peter later went on to play for the Manhattan Rugby Club and the Albany Knickerbockers where he was a captain + president on the squad. Peter has also coached the Knicks + the Empire State game's Adirondack team. He is a USA Rugby Certified coach.

Forwards Coach - U19 Bulldogs Head Coach

Dave Farison
Coach Farison started coaching the forwards in the fall of 2007 and is the head coach of the Albany Bulldogs U19 team. Coach Farison has played many years with the Albany Knickerbocker RFC and is currently the club's OBC. He is a USA Rugby Certified coach.

7's Coach

John Burns
Coach Burns has coached the UAlbany 7's program in conjunction with the Albany Knickerbocer Rugby Club 7's/Empire Games rugby 7's. He currently is a player coach with the Albany Knick's.

U19 Ast. Coach

Tim Pendergast
Coach Pendergast is the backfield coach for the Bulldogs U19 team. Tim plays scrum half for the Albany Knickerbocker RFC.