Laura Miller was announced as the first women's rugby coach in AQ program history back in June of 2021. Miller was formerly the head men's and women's rugby coach at NCAA Division II Alderson Broaddus (West Virginia). Prior to her time at Alderson Broaddus, Miller was a player for the USA Rugby Women's National Team for five years.
The women's rugby program officially started in the fall of 2022 and immediately experienced success. The Saints competed in four exhibition sevens matches and won all four. Aquinas will begin competing in official sevens tournaments in the spring of 2023.
Miller has prior experience starting a new program as she began the Alderson Broaddus varsity rugby teams in 2018, as the head coach of both men's and women's programs in Philippi, West Virginia.
"I'm honored to have been chosen to build what I know will become a special program at Aquinas College," Miller explained. "Varsity rugby and the Aquinas campus are an ideal fit. I expect AQ women's rugby to develop into a thriving program, creating great experiences for our student-athletes and competing at the top level in US college rugby. Our decision to move to Grand Rapids was made in large part by a belief that small colleges who set high academic standards create great outcomes for their students both on and off the field. I would like to thank Nick Davidson and everyone in Aquinas Athletics for welcoming me into the AQ family and I can't wait to see the impact this program will have."
During her time at Alderson Broaddus, the women's team went undefeated in the inaugural season prior to the COVID shutdown. The women were elevated to the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA), which is the NCAA Division II level.
Prior to her Alderson Broaddus tenure, Miller was the assistant women's coach at Life (Ga.) from 2016 to 2018. The Running Eagles made four USA Rugby championship appearances in the two seasons: the 15's team finished as 2017 semifinalists and 2018 runners-up, while the 7's team were 2017 runners-up and 2018 third-place finishers. Life also won the 2017 Collegiate Rugby National Championship and the 7's team made a Collegiate Rugby Championships semifinal appearance in 2018.
She was the head coach of the Southern Independent Rugby Conference All-Stars and the Director of Coaching for Atlanta Youth Rugby. Miller is a World Rugby Certified Coach Educator, as well.
From 2011 to 2016, Miller competed for the USA Rugby Women's National Team. She capped at the Nations Cup in 2011 in Canada and participated in both the 2012 European Tour in Italy and France and the 2015 Super Series in Canada. Miller also spent time playing with the London Saracens Premiership in 2011 after being capped for the United States.
Miller won three national championships as a player, including the 2013 National All-Star 7's Championship when she competed for Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union. She helped the Glendale Raptors capture the Women's Premier League Championship in 2014 and 2015 after a semifinal appearance in 2013; she served as Club President for Glendale and was also a field captain during the 2014 season.
A two-time All-American at St. Mary's College of Maryland, Miller has coached a handful of players who have gone on to compete for the women's national team.
