New Mexico Tech Rugby awaits the arrival of new head coach Jason Oliphant. A resident of a small town outside Durban, South Africa, Oliphant’s playing career included the Golden Lions Under 21 side, the Guateng Falcons, and a short stint with the Old Blue of New York.

After a successful career in the restaurant business, Oliphant returned to rugby to start coaching. He immediately jumped into coaching the junior side of Valke, a team that features in the Currie Cup, a professional league in South Africa.

Since 2017, Oliphant has taken the reins of two different college sides – Wits University and University of KwaZulu-Natal. In 2023, he graduated from a highly selective, 18-month long Elite Coaching Programme run by South Africa Rugby.

Team manager Taylor Dotson said, “Oliphant is not only the most experienced person to step into the head coaching role at New Mexico Tech, but he also brings a wealth of connections to the broader rugby world. This should allow the team to continue the fruitful exchange of players, ideas, and experience with South Africa. Oliphant is sure to quickly learn the various challenges in the American rugby landscape.”

Coach Oliphant is set to arrive in January 2024, but the H1-B visa process takes as long as it takes. The team is eager to greet their new coach.

About New Mexico Tech
New Mexico Tech, also known as New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, is a STEM-focused university in centrally located Socorro, New Mexico. Ranking high in the regional and national standings, this community of scholars and educators is dedicated to research, innovation and education that will meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. NMT is recognized as a “Hispanic-serving institution” (HSI), with more than 40 percent of its students identifying as Hispanic. New Mexico Tech is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission as a doctoral degree-granting university.

All media inquiries, please contact Jay Ann Cox, Communications Specialist, 575-835-5260, jay.cox@nmt.edu.