Paul Kessler

Paul Kessler's rugby career began in 1975 playing for San Jose State, where he served as team captain for two years. After college, he played with the San Jose Seahawks from 1978 to 1985, winning a national championship in 1982, while also representing the Nor-Cal Pelicans and Grizzlies.

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Paul returned to the game in 2005, helping develop the Sierra Foothills Youth Rugby Club in Reno, Nevada, growing the program from 30 members to more than 200 and leading the 16-and-under boys to a 2013 California State Championship and a trip to Nationals in Indiana the following year. Over the years he has held numerous leadership roles with the club, including Girls Varsity Coach, Varsity Boys Head Coach, and Director of Rugby, and went on to serve as President of Rugby NorCal and a member of USA Rugby's congress. He later joined the board of a nonprofit foundation supporting Sacramento Valley Youth Rugby and served as Operations Manager for the inaugural season of Sacramento Express PRO Rugby.

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Now retired, Paul is leading the effort to grow youth rugby in Northern Nevada as an Imagine Rugby coach, with training sessions planned for spring 2026. He has also taken on a personal mission to improve player safety across youth sports by promoting preventative solutions for heart and brain injuries.