Gavin Hickie enters his eighth season as the director of rugby and head coach of the Navy men’s team in the fall of 2024. In his seven years in Annapolis, Hickie owns an overall record of 75-15 and is 35-2 since the team was elevated to varsity status. Additionally, he has won a national championship (2023), two Rugby East titles (2022, ’23) and coached two Rudy Scholz Award winners.
The Mids compiled a 17-2 overall record during its second varsity season under Hickie in 2023-24. Navy outscored its opponents, 910-245, and posted an average margin of victory of 40.7 points. The Mids averaged 7.1 tries per match, while only surrendering 1.8 tries per contest defensively.
Navy was ranked No. 1 in the nation in each national poll released by the Collegiate Rugby Association of America (CRAA) in 2023-24. The Mids won nine games against opponents ranked in the top 20 in the final CRAA power rankings poll over the course of the season. Navy defeated No. 2 Life twice (20-14; 27-17), No. 8 Arkansas State (57-5), No. 11 Mount St. Mary’s (32-20), No. 12 Army (23-21), No. 14 Mary Washington (41-7), No. 17 Penn State twice (57-5; 37-12) and No. 19 Air Force (50-8).
The Mids posted an 11-0 record during the fall season. Navy won all seven of its games against Rugby East opponents to capture the league title for the second-straight season. The Mids also continued their dominance over service academy rivals Air Force and Army. Navy defeated Air Force, 50-8, in Annapolis to claim the Lt. Col. Kevin Shea Memorial Rugby Cup for the sixth-straight season. The Mids later battled the Black Knights in West Point in the inaugural men’s rugby Star Match, which is part of the Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA. A walk-off penalty kick propelled Navy to a 23-21 victory.
A league-leading nine midshipmen earned Rugby East All-Conference accolades. Roanin Krieger, Tanner Russell and Vaughn Schmitz received First-Team All-Rugby East recognition. Jake Beitia, Sean MacLaney and Max Smith garnered second-team honors. Additionally, Jack Aleman, Ben Haugh and Austin Taylor collected honorable-mention accolades.
After winning three of their four matches during the spring season, the Mids claimed the top seed in the CRAA Division I-A playoff east bracket for the second year in a row. Navy opened the postseason with a 41-7 victory over Mary Washington in the first round. The Mids then dominated Arkansas State, 57-5, in the quarterfinals. Navy punched its ticket to the national championship game for the second-consecutive season with a 27-17 win against Life in the semifinals.
Hickie had two athletes nominated for the Rudy Scholz Award once again during the 2023-24 campaign. Roanin Krieger and Vaughn Schmitz were each one of 18 players nominated for the award. Navy and St. Mary’s were the only schools with multiple nominees. Additionally, Hickie coached three CRAA DI-A First-Team All-Americans (Jake Cornelius, Haugh, Krieger).
Hickie guided the Mids to a national championship and an 18-0 record in their first season as a varsity program. Navy outscored its opponents, 760-208, and posted an average margin of victory of 30.6 points. Navy’s offense averaged 6.2 tries per match, while only surrendering 1.2 tries per contest defensively.
The Mids won eight games against opponents ranked in the top 20 of the College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) power rankings and outscored their ranked foes, 274-128.
Navy opened the 2022-23 campaign during the fall and posted an undefeated 11-0 record to claim its first Rugby East Conference Championship. Highlighting Navy’s fall season were wins over academy rivals Air Force and Army. The Mids dominated No. 19 ranked Air Force, 71-0, to claim the Lt. Col. Shea Memorial Rugby Cup for the seventh-straight season. Navy defeated No. 1 ranked Army, 27-14, later in the season for its first win over the Black Knights since 2019.
Navy resumed competition in the spring and won an additional four matches, two of which were against teams ranked in the top 10 of the CRAA power rankings. Navy defeated No. 4 California, 33-28, for its first victory over the Golden Bears. The Mids also won their second match of the season against No. 8 Army, 34-26.
The Mids earned the top seed in the CRAA Division I-A Playoffs and defeated Army, 30-6, in the quarterfinals. Navy surrendered just two penalty kicks in the match, which marked the first time Army had been held without a try against a U.S. school in its nine-year varsity history. The Mids took down Lindenwood, 12-10, in the semifinals to set up a rematch against national powerhouse California in the championship. Navy overcame an early deficit and won the match, 28-22, to earn its first national championship in program history.
Hired in the summer of 2017, Hickie guided the Mids to an overall record of 40-13 over the program’s five seasons on the club level. Navy posted at least 10 wins three times under Hickie, including a 12-4 mark during the 2018-19 season.
Two midshipmen have won the Rudy Scholz Award under Hickie, which is presented annually by the Washington Athletic Club to the top men's college rugby player in the country. Connor McNerney became the first mid to win the award in 2018. Most recently, Lewis Gray earned the accolade in 2023. Navy is one of only two programs to have multiple winners since the award was introduced in 2016.
The Dublin, Ireland, native graduated from the University College Dublin in 2003. He played professional rugby for Leinster and helped the club win the inaugural Celtic League in 2001. Hickie also played for the London Irish RFC, the Worcester Warriors and the Leicester Tigers. He helped Leicester win the 2007 Guinness Premiership.
Hickie began his coaching career in 2007 as the forwards coach for Leicester Academy. He then served as an assistant coach for the Belmont Shore Rugby Football Club in Southern California and the head coach at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, Calif.
Hickie moved to the college level when he was named the head coach at Dartmouth in 2012. He led Dartmouth to the Ivy League Championship in XVs and 7s in all five seasons at the helm. The Big Green made the Varsity Cup Quarterfinals (XVs) in 2013, ‘14 and ’16, won the CRC (7s) in 2012 and advanced to the Quarterfinals from 2013-16. Additionally, Dartmouth won the USA Rugby 7s in 2012 and placed third in 2013.
On a national level, Hickie was affiliated with USA Rugby for several years as either an assistant or head coach.
