ALFRED, NY – Deb Steward, the Associate Vice President for Student Experience, Athletics and Recreation, has announced the appointment of Dr. Nicole Bernsen as the Director of Rugby and Women's Rugby Head Coach at Alfred University. 
 
"I am excited for the future of women's and men's rugby with Nicole in this leadership role," Steward said. "Her passion and commitment to rugby are impressive. I am confident she will recruit and retain student-athletes while assisting them in finding their academic passion at Alfred University.  Her depth of experience will be an asset to our department and University."
 
For the past three years, Bernsen served 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. Bernsen additionally served in a game day administrative role and was the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) advisor.
 
"I am thrilled to be joining the Saxon Nation as we build on a rich rugby history and usher in a new chapter of success," Bernsen said. "I want to thank Associate Vice President Steward for entrusting me with this opportunity to grow the rugby family at Alfred University as we elevate our women's program to varsity status and embark on Saxon Hill Sports Complex. The commitment of President Zupan, Provost Dobie, and Vice President DeKay to enhancing the student experience at AU is inspiring and has fostered an exciting time to be a part of Saxon Athletics!"
 
Prior to her time with the Nanooks, Bernsen spent time as the Education Director for the American Collegiate Rugby Association in Dover, Delaware where she implemented and directed educational professional development initiatives. Bernsen additionally served as chair of the education committee, was a supervisor for player, coach, and referee education coordinators, and was an Executive Board voting member.
 
In 2020, Bernsen served as the rugby select side assistant coach at the Pacific Northwest Rugby Football Union in Seattle, Washington. Besides coaching, she coordinated selection and training camps, managed player data, and was responsible for fostering events that created opportunities for regional athletes to compete at a higher level and to be evaluated by national team coaches.
 
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 University of New Mexico as a rugby assistant coach, served as the U-19 and U-17 Red Hawks Select Side Rugby Coach in Portland, Oregon, and was a rugby coach at Newberg High School (OR).
 
Bernsen's playing career includes stints with the Budd Bay Bandits (Olympia, WA), Portland Pigs (Portland, OR), and UC-Santa Barbara.
 
Bernsen earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Resources Policy and Economics from University of Maine, a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of New Mexico, and her Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies from the University of California-Santa Barbara while studying abroad at the American University of Paris, France.