By The Keystone Newspaper Jeff Duke steps into role after Doc Jones steps down
By Ryan Tirpak
KU has announced a change in the men’s rugby head coach position. Dr. Gregg A. Jones, also known as ‘Doc,’ will be stepping away from the position after four decades and handing the reins over to Jeff Duke.
Duke, who attended KU and played center, has been on KU’s coaching staff since the spring of 2017.
His coaching career started in 2010 for the Allentown Blues U-19 Team as a backline coach. Under Jones’ leadership, the team has reached nine quarterfinals, eight final fours and four finals in twelve all-time CRC Nation 7s appearances. In 2022, he led the team to its first CRC 7’s national championship in New Orleans. Jones will now be working behind the scenes as the general manager for the team.
He was also inducted into the Collegiate Rugby Championship Hall of Fame, being the first representative from Kutztown and the second coach inducted.
Men’s rugby has started strong this season with a record of 4-1 overall. Their last game against the Wheeling University Cardinals ended in a 37-36 win in West Virginia. Their next game will be home against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders at the North Campus Rugby Pitch on Oct. 10.
KU is standing at an undefeated 3-0 record at home games. This will be their third game against a conference team, with their conference record standing at 1-1.
The full Men’s Rugby schedule can be found here.
Image Credit: Ryan Tirpak