Alfred University Women's Rugby

Dr. Nicole Bernsen was hired by Alfred University as the Director of Rugby and Women's Rugby Head Coach on May 19, 2023. Prior to AU, Bernsen spent three years as the Associate Director for Athletics Academic Services and Senior Woman Administrator at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). While at UAF, Bernsen provided academic support to prospective and current student-athletes across 10 varsity programs, coordinated tutorial services and other learning support, and provided workshops to aid in the improvement of student-athletes' study habits, academic skills, and personal growth. Before UAF, Bernsen served as the Education Director for the American Collegiate Rugby Association in Dover, Delaware where she implemented and directed educational professional development initiatives. In 2020, Bernsen served as the rugby select side assistant coach at the Pacific Northwest Rugby Football Union in Seattle, Washington. Bernsen was the head rugby coach for the University of Maine from January of 2017 to May of 2020. Under her leadership, UMaine qualified for the postseason each year. She established competition in sevens rugby as well as initiated the team's strength and conditioning program. Bernsen coached six Academic All-Americans while leading the team to a Division II Women's Collegiate Ranking of ninth in fifteens and third in sevens rugby. Her team won the New England Continental Bowl in the Fall of 2017. Prior to the University of Maine, Bernsen spent a year at the Uni

Allison Hogue joined the Alfred University Athletic Communications staff as the Assistant Director of Athletic Communications in December of 2024. From the Boston, MA area, Hogue has been working as a Game Day Contractor since August 2024. Prior to that, she was at Division I University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, where she served as the primary contact for women's basketball, men's soccer, women's soccer, women's water polo, women's cross country and women's track & field programs, supervising interns and producing social media content. Before Pacific, Hogue was the Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant for Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, earning her Master of Arts in Sports Communication & Media in 2023, where she served as primary contact for ten sports including coverage of women's basketball and women's lacrosse teams in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. She also worked as Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations at Coker University in Hartsville, SC, Communications & Marketing Intern for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, Sports Communications Summer intern at the University of Florida, and Athletics Communications Intern at Liberty University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Sport Management in 2019. Hogue gained NCAA tournament experience in 2022 working Game Operations for Men's Golf and Men's Lacrosse Championships and served as Social Media Liaison for the Women's Basketball Bridgeport Regional. She is a member of College Sport

Hired at AU: August of 2025 Alma Mater: Corning Community College '21, Alfred University '24 Pratt is in her first season on staff

Cullen Mahoney joined the Alfred University rugby program as a graduate assistant prior to the 2024-25 season.  Mahoney gets his coaching start with the Saxons

Russell was hired as the Head Men's Rugby Coach and Assistant Women's Rugby Coach in May of 2024. He also plays a lead role in the campus intramural program. Russell comes to Alfred University from the University of Maine, where he recently led his team to the 2024 National Collegiate Rugby Men's Division II National Championship title. He has worked as the men's rugby coach since August of 2015 and has a 49-20-1 record to show for it. Russell's men's rugby program has qualified for the national tournament for 15's in 2015, 2016, 2022 and 2023 outside of the champion season of 2024. His program also qualified for nationals in 7's in 2021 and 2022, finishing in the Top-15 in both seasons. Russell's work with the program extended beyond the pitch as he worked with the University of Maine Strength & Conditioning department to set up a partnership for both men's and women's rugby as both are club sports. He also established an endowment to support the men's program's 50th anniversary team. Russell also worked with the women's rugby team at U. Maine and helped coach them to finish ninth in the nation during his one and a half years with the team. Concurrently, while working at Maine, Russell coached the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO), now named the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR), North East Collegiate Select team as the Side Forwards Coach. During his two years, he helped lead them to two National Championship Finals and coached eight players to All-American ho

Hired at AU: 2001 Alma Mater: LeMoyne College Dr. Daniel Curtin, MD is lifelong resident of New York. He finished his undergraduate

Dr. McGowan accepted the role as Faculty Athletics Representative in August of 2025, adding to his role as a Professor of Chemistry at Alfred University. In his

DeVeglio joined the Alfred University Sports Medicine staff as an Assistant Athletic Trainer in July of 2024. Prior to AU, DeVeglio worked as an Assistant Athletic Trainer with the University at Buffalo beginning in June of 2023. With the Bulls, DeVeglio worked alongside the cross country and track & field programs. She was responsible for comprehensive healthcare and facilitating post-surgical rehabilitation for the student-athletes. Previously, DeVeglio served as a brain lab graduate research assistant with Michigan State University. With the Spartans, DeVeglio conducted and inputted concussion research to better assist student-athletes. DeVeglio graduated with her bachelor's degree in kinesiology at SUNY Brockport while competing with the women's rugby program. She later earned a master's degree in athletic training at Michigan State University.

Hired at AU: February of 2024 Alma Mater: Pittsburgh '07 Bassage was promoted as an assistant baseball/strength & conditioning coach

Bailey serves as an Volunteer Assistant Coach for both the men's and women's rugby teams at Alfred University, joining both staffs in the spring of 2025. A former

Hired at AU: - March of 2024 Alma Mater: - Alfred University '22 - Pennsylvania Western '24 Masters of Exercise Science Wilson