Coaches & Staff
Women's+ Team
Co-Head Coach Leandria (Lele) Ates (she/her) is a USA Rugby Certified Coach and also a current player for NOVA Womens’ D1 Program. She is a long term Scrum-half (center at heart) for various clubs but primarily Miami WRFC and Florida HPP. Coach Ates joined the staff in 2023 and is beyond excited to encourage diversity, inclusion and passion for a game she learned to love.
Ates is a veteran of the US Army and collegiate graduate of Florida International University where she became an Engineer and began playing rugby in 2011.
Men's Team
Head Coach Tito Miranda (he/him) is a World Rugby L1 Certified Coach. Coach Miranda has been the Old Glory DC U20 Academy coach since its inception. He is also the assistant backs coach for Fort Hunt Rugby and since 2017, he has also specialized as a kicking coach.
Coach Miranda is a graduate of Mount St. Mary's University where he began playing rugby in 2013.
Co-Head Coach Kimmon (MacGyver) Williams (she/her) is a USA Rugby Certified Coach and also a current NOVA Women's Division I athlete. She is a long-time prop for NOVA Women's Rugby Club, playing DI, DII, and DIII senior club rugby. Coach Williams joined Howard Rugby Club in 2023 and states that she is "eager to inspire equity, commitment, and community, within rugby all while centering joy."
Williams is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where she began playing rugby in 2006.
Assistant Coach Vince Rapposelli (he/him) - Information to be added soon.
Assistant Coach Katie (Sully) Sullivan (she/her) is a World Rugby L1 Certified Coach. Coach Sullivan is the current NOVA D2 Coach and has previously coached at the University of Scranton, before residing in D.C. She was a long-time prop for NOVA Women's Rugby Club. Among her many accolades, Sullivan helped propel NOVA to a Division I 15s National Championship in 2019.
Sullivan is a graduate of Penn State University and began playing rugby in 2010 in Ireland.
Assistant Coach Tyler Evans (he/him) - Info to be added soon.
Assistant Coach Katrina Bodenschatz (she/her) - Info to be added soon.
Rugby Liaison Katherine (Kat) Aversano (she/her/they) is a World Rugby L2 Certified Coach, Certified World Rugby Educator, and a PCA Double-Goal Coach. Aversano is a leader in U.S. rugby spaces and has been with HUWRC since its inception in 2021.
Aversano is the Vice-President and on the BOD of the U.S. Women's Premier League Rugby. They are also on the National BOD for USA Youth and High School Rugby. Aversano also created and ran the Chesapeake Rugby Conference which is a regional competition.
Aversano is a graduate of Howard Law and the University of Mary Washington where she began playing rugby in 2000.