Kisset Chirengende Tabbed Lead Men’s Rugby Club Program

CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Mark A. Corino announced the hiring of Kisset Chirengende as the first head coach for the men’s rugby club program effective May 12, 2021.
 
“I am excited to be the first men’s rugby coach of this esteemed school,” said Chirengende. “The President, Dr. Whelan and Director of Athletics, Mr. Mark Corino, have shown a real willingness to grow the game of rugby at Caldwell, while equipping young men with a quality education. This was enough to convince me that I wanted to be part of this journey and I look forward to doing my bit to raise the Caldwell banner high.”
 
Chirengende comes to Caldwell from William Paterson University where he served first as the assistant head coach for the men’s rugby club team from 2016-2018 and head coach from 2018-2021. He guided his team to three straight 7s Tri-State Championship and finished with the highest national ranking among the three years at sixth in 2019. Chirengende also led the William Paterson 15s team to two Tri-State Championships in 2018 and 2019. His 2018 team qualified for the national tournament and finished fifth in the national rankings.
 
“I am extremely excited to have Kisset join our institution as the first men’s rugby coach,” said Corino. “I am confident that he will be able to build a competitive program and grow the game of rugby at our institution. Kisset brings a vast knowledge and experience to this new program and I believe that he will work hard to live up to the university’s mission. I look forward to working with Kisset and am excited for him to build our rugby program.”
 
Prior to his time at William Paterson, Chirengende was the founder and coach for the Zambezi Steelers, an invitational rugby team. He led the program to a Tropical U18 7s Elite Division Championship in Orlando in 2018 and participated in the 2019 U19 World Schools Festival in Cape Town, South Africa.
 
Chirengende graduated from Leeds Beckett University in Leeds, United Kingdom in 2012 with a degree in Sport Business Management. While at Leeds Beckett, Chirengende was a member of the institution’s rugby team.
 
Any students or prospective students seeking to join the Caldwell men’s rugby team should follow the link to the recruiting form https://caldwellathletics.com/sports/2015/9/24/GEN_0924154007.aspx