PURCHASE, N.Y. -  The Manhattanville College Department of Athletics and Recreation and Associate Vice President of Athletics and Recreation Julene Caulfield have announced the hiring of Dylan Aldrich as head coach of the Manhattanville College women's rugby team.

Aldrich has officially been named the second head coach in the history of the women's rugby program and will replace outgoing head coach Frank Graziano.

"It is a pleasure to welcome Dylan to the Manhattanville family," Caulfield said. "I am looking forward to Dylan continuing to build and develop our women's rugby program."

Aldrich started his rugby career at St. Francis Prep as a three-year member of the men's rugby team where he played the wing and scrum-half positions during both the 15's and 7's seasons. He would then go on to participate as the starting scrum-half in the Old Dogs RFC which consisted of selected St. Francis Prep alumnus competing in multiple summer 7's tournaments.

Prior to coaching, Aldrich was a four-year member and starting scrum-half for the Seton Hall University Rugby Football Club. He participated in both the 15's and 7's seasons for the Pirates. As the team's match secretary during the 2021-22 season, he was responsible for organizing the match schedule, while communicating with other teams and the Tri-State Conference. As team captain during the 2022-23 season, Aldrich helped develop and create the team's playbook. He was also responsible for the organization of workouts and extra practice sessions.

Aldrich is a 2023 graduate of Seton Hall University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration at Mercy College while working as a graduate assistant in the school's athletic department.

"I am extremely honored and excited to be named the Head Women's Rugby Coach at Manhattanville College," Aldrich said. " I would like to thank Julene Caulfield and the entire Athletics Department for having faith in me to begin my coaching career with such a prestigious institution. With Manhattanville's long history of success in athletics, I am confident that we can build a women's rugby program that the school and community can be proud of. We will be a program of high character student-athletes who will succeed both on and off the field. I can't wait to get started."
 
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