After resigning tenured post, former BYU rugby coach David Smyth takes job at Utah Valley


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OREM — It didn’t take long for longtime BYU rugby coach David Smyth to land a new position after suddenly stepping down as head coach of the Cougars.

And he’s staying within Utah County.

Smyth and veteran assistant coach Wayne Tarawhiti will coach at Utah Valley University beginning this fall, the Wolverines' program announced Friday.

A big reason for the local move, Smyth said, was to stay close to the high school and youth rugby community he has helped develop in Utah.

"I think the colleges need to work harder at providing the opportunities for these youngsters to continue playing after high school," Smyth said. "We're excited as we look at the youth rugby landscape to see where the UVU program can now with these young players.

"Being able to play rugby whilst getting an education can be a powerful thing in the lives of these young men. It helps them in becoming well-rounded individuals with developed skills that will enable them to gain professional employment. It will only be a benefit to them. In the proper environment, there’s no reason why these boys can’t excel in both areas."

After three decades with the BYU rugby team, coach David Smyth and assistant coach Wayne Tarawhiti will join Adam Griffee's staff at Utah Valley University. (Photo: Monica Gibb)
After three decades with the BYU rugby team, coach David Smyth and assistant coach Wayne Tarawhiti will join Adam Griffee's staff at Utah Valley University. (Photo: Monica Gibb)

A former Division I-AA national champion, Utah Valley recently made the move to Division I-A. While BYU has been consistently judged a Top-5 team nationally in the division, the Wolverines have climbed as high as the Top 20 nationally in rankings published by outlets like FloRugby and Rugby Today.

"This was a great opportunity to work with a team that has been on the rise the past couple of years," Tarawhiti said in a statement from the club. "The coaching staff and administration has already set some good groundwork. Now we want to continue that and build on it. We firmly believe that the potential is there for the UVU rugby program to excel and become very competitive at a national level."

Current Utah Valley head coach Adam Griffee told KSL.com he’s been serving the club program for nearly three years with just one assistant, and bringing in two coaches with the pedigree of Smyth and Tarawhiti will be an immediate boost to his program.

"I am excited to have David Smyth and Wayne Tarawhiti join me at UVU," Griffee said. "They have a great resume and bring a lot to the table as we look forward to building a rugby dynasty."

Smyth and Tarawhiti won five national championships at BYU, building up the program since 1990 to compete on a similar level as powerhouse programs like Cal.

But the duo resigned suddenly at the end of the 2018 season, citing differences with BYU’s Student Life department that governs and manages all extramural club athletics on campus.

"Simply put, our vision, strategies and goals for the rugby program do not align with those of the Student Life department," Smyth said at the time. "So, after 30-plus years of being a part of the BYU rugby program, I have decided to step aside and move on."

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