John English joined the Navy women’s rugby staff as an assistant coach in February of 2024
English, who has USA Rugby level 200 coach certification, brings 29 years of experience from youth to the collegiate level in both men’s and women’s rugby.
Prior to his arrival in Annapolis, English served as an assistant coach for Queen’s University of Charlotte during the fall of 2023. Under his guidance, three players garnered NIRA All-League accolades.
English’s coaching experience began at the youth level. In 1995, he founded and became the program director / head coach of the Westerville Boys Rugby Club. He formed Westerville into one of the top-ranked high school teams in the country during his 19 years at the helm, winning 15 state championships (Ohio), 10 Midwest regional titles and finishing as the national runner-up in 1998, 2000 and 2001. Additionally, he helped create the Westerville Jr. Rugby Club. He served as program director of the junior club from 2002-08.
English also had the honor of serving as the head coach of the All-Ohio High School Boys Select team in the Summer of 2000 during its Indiana tour. The following summer, he was chosen to be the head coach of the Midwest Thunderbirds High School Boys Select team for its Canada tour.
English’s success at the high school level earned him a position as the director of rugby / head coach of the men’s and women’s rugby teams at Ohio Wesleyan in January of 2014. The 2015 women’s 7s season marked a historic moment for the Battling Bishops when they qualified for the 7s National Championship Playoffs. English was named Ohio Wesleyan’s Club Advisor of the Year in 2016 for the major achievement.
After his six-year stint with the Battling Bishops, English served as an assistant coach for Denison University’s men’s and women’s programs from 2021-23.
English continued to coach high school teams during his time at the collegiate level. He was chosen to be an assistant coach for the Midwest Thunderbirds High School Girls Select team in 2017, ‘18, ‘20 and ‘22 for its Florida tour. He also was an assistant coach for the team during its Ireland tour in 2019. Additionally, English spent the summer of 2018 as the assistant coach of the Ohio Celtic High School Girls Select team at the Indiana Regional Championship Tournament.
English also started working with the Midwest Rugby Union High School Girls 15s squad as an assistant coach in 2017.
In 2022, he was handed assistant coaching responsibilities for the Ohio Valley Women's Collegiate Rugby Conference All-Star 7s team, who competed in the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) All-Star Tournament in Houston, Texas.
Along with his coaching responsibilities, English worked as a firefighter and a paramedic in Columbus, Ohio from 1997 to 2023.
A native of Ohio, English studied recreation education at Ohio State and public safety management and leadership at Franklin University.
He currently resides in Annapolis. John has been married to Anjela English for 27 years and has three children (Zane, Allexia, Ella).
