On the pitch
When John Schaefer first watched a rugby match in 2010, he wasn’t expecting it to change his life.
He was captivated by the energy, the flow of play and the camaraderie. Fifteen years later, that same passion drives him as the head coach of Central Michigan University’s club men’s rugby team — the CMU Exiles.
Building a program and a culture
Now in his fourth season coaching the Exiles, Schaefer emphasizes patience, effort and teamwork as his players navigate a sport that can be as confusing as it is demanding.
“When you’re first starting out, it’s a large beast to try and get your head wrapped around,” Schaefer said. “It took me two or three years to really figure it out. I tell my guys all the time — if you want to get good at it, you’ve got to put in the time.”
That mentality has helped CMU’s club rugby program grow both competitively and culturally. Though the team’s numbers are smaller than they once were, Schaefer said the talent level is higher than ever.
“When I was a player, we had size and numbers,” he said. “But the team I’m coaching now, they run a better offense, better defense, their small skills are better. They’re just a very, very good team.”
The Exiles’ recent record backs that up. Over the past two years, Schaefer said the only team that’s beaten them is Grand Valley State University — one of the top Division II programs in the country.
Brotherhood beyond the game
For Schaefer, rugby is more than a sport — it’s a community. The social traditions that define the rugby world are a cornerstone of the team’s identity.
“Rugby has a large social aspect built into the culture,” he said. “After every game, both teams get together, specifically at The Cabin, for food, drinks and conversation. It’s a chance to hang out and clear the air. What happens on the field stays on the field.”
The postgame tradition, Schaefer said, is about more than celebration. It’s about connection, a shared respect that transcends competition. Many of his players forge lifelong friendships through these interactions, just as he did more than a decade ago.
“I’ve got friends I started playing with in 2010 that I still see three or four times a year,” he said. “You build friendships that last for life.”
Learning, losing and moving forward
When the Exiles lose, Schaefer doesn’t focus on the scoreboard. His approach focuses on resilience and growth, he said.
“The only score that matters is the next one,” he tells his team. “You’re not going to win every game. You’re not going to do everything perfectly. The important thing is that the mistakes you made one week don’t carry over to the next.”
That short-term memory mindset, he said, helps his players bounce back stronger each time.
Team chemistry plays a crucial role in the Exiles’ success. From Friday night dinners to film sessions, the players create their own culture of accountability and friendship.
"One of my favorites that I've done is, we had a rainy day last fall, and we took some of those bigger tackle pads, and we had a relay race from one sideline to the other and back, tackling the pad and sliding as far as you could on the wet ground," he said. "And that was a blast. All the boys loved it. It was a great time."
Schaefer steps in when needed but trusts his team to lead from within.
“I think it’s important to let the boys develop that themselves,” Schaefer said. “It’s a disservice if I come in and do everything. There was a guy I played with when I was in college, and he described it as 'Rugby's just a blue collar fraternity', By the time most of them are sophomores, they’re living with other rugby players.”
A coach’s reward
Coaching, for Schaefer, isn’t about winning titles, he said. It’s about watching young men grow, both on and off the field.
“It’s been really rewarding to see how fast they develop with a little guidance,” he said. “Rugby teaches you who you are as a person. You learn resilience, you learn teamwork, and you learn to rely on people around you.”
That message is what he hopes to pass on to anyone thinking about joining the sport.
“Just do it,” Schaefer said. “It doesn’t matter your body type or background ... there’s a position for everyone. Rugby is the greatest sport on earth. You’ll find out who you are, and you’ll build friendships that last a lifetime.”
