1968 - 1972 Alan Osur

Coaching History

Assistant Coach

Head Coach

Short Biography

Alan was admired by all for his passion for the game. He would continue to play when he could, well into his 60s. In the spring of 77 when Alan took the field with his old team, the Denver Barbos, against the cadets, instead of tackling him, they held him up and promptly took him to the biggest mud puddle on the pitch where he got a thorough dunking.

THIS IS NOT ALAN"S BUT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS

Short Biography

Alan Osur, Ph. D (history), BS (computer science), Maj (ret), Tenured Associate Professor and Deputy Department Head, USAF Academy Department of History

Alan was the force behind getting rugby as a club at the Air Force Academy and served as their first coach. He was also the force behind getting women's rugby started at the Academy and became their first coach. He is the most successful women’s coach since the beginning of the Air Force Academy intercollegiate rugby programs.

Alan began his rugby journey while stationed in England in the mid 60s, playing his first game for Shelford. He returned to the Academy as Director of US History and Associate Professor of History, but quickly began his quest for rugby. Teaming up with a few cadets, in 1968 he started the Academy’s intercollegiate rugby program. Years later, during his second Academy tour in 1977, he started the women’s intercollegiate rugby program. Under his leadership, these programs flourished and have earned numerous local championships, 17 Western championships, 8 final four appearances, and competed in 4 National Collegiate Championship games coming away as National Collegiate Champion in three.

Alan also served as the Western Collegiate women’s competition committee chairman, and at the national level, was active as the chairman of the USA Rugby Collegiate Committee, which began the Women’s All American Program. As chair, he ran the All American selection process for 12 years during which time he was elected as the Collegiate Director to the USA Rugby national board for a 2 year term. Here he originated and implemented the National Women’s College Development Camp in 1996.

As a player, Alan was always ready to put on the cleats. His play was intelligent and crafty, and he took every opportunity to take advantage of his skills and athleticism. To quote a former player: “When he ran with the ball, I swear his feet never touched the ground; he'd kick or pass it, always damn near perfect”

Alan was also a very competent referee, and later became a mentor for young referees.

The impact of anyone's accomplishments is rarely noted, but there is no mistaking that Alan's accomplishments are widespread. A lasting legacy, ripples upon ripples that would not have happened were it not for Alan Osur.

Many a cadet would not have continued at the Academy were it not for the balancing effect of the game and Alan’s leadership. Just one of many quotes: From Laura MacDonald, 2002 and USA Eagle: “Alan was a huge part of my rugby career.. he taught players discipline and professionalism/class when on the field. My success in rugby started at the AF Academy because of Alan's dedication to his athletes. I could never say thank you enough to Alan for the long practices in hail storms, kicking practice in blizzards, and for the best AFA memories I have! …it was Alan's mastermind that opened the door of opportunity for me”

From a long time player who has started many a team, and is a successful administrator, coach and recently head of the entire rugby programs at Colorado University, 71 grad Sean: “In 1968 when I started AFA rugby I remember his leadership…. Coach Osur is still one of the finest officers, leaders and men I have ever known, either inside the AF or in civilian life.”

After graduation, scores of rugby players, both those whom Alan coached or those who experienced the program he started, went on to become leaders in their own right: Colonels, Generals, CEOs, physicians, fighter pilots and astronauts, most of whom attribute much of their success to lessons learned on the rugby field.

Many went on to play, some at high levels, and a few represented our country on the rugby field in international play.

Many created rugby teams across the US and abroad, scores of teams that have provided thousands upon thousands of athletes the opportunity to play and enjoy the camaraderie of our sport…. All because of Osur..

Many of Alan’s charges have passed the rugby infection to their offspring. One of our new Rugby Alumni board members, Melissa Bauman Phillips, was a member on Alan’s 1994 National Championship team. She returned to the Academy a decade later to contribute and serve as the team OIC, but claims her first rugby influence came from her father, David Baumann 71, who was also coached by none other than, Alan Osur. And this is not the only father – offspring influence that Alan had started…., Right Tex and Matt Byrd? …were it not for Alan Osur…

And the influence goes even further, as I heard from one grad recently: I started coaching in Utah because my Grandson and his Dad started at team in Layton. However, my granddaughter also was playing in the under 10 Year old group last year. Then the Hala Koa team started the first Girls’ team U19 in Northern Utah and my Son in law’s Sister, was the head coach by herself. I pitched in and coached the backs while she coached the forwards. Yes, many of our grads have taken the game to the youth, 3rd grade on up, boys and girls who owe their rugby start to the first (Alan Osur) domino that fell at the AFA program. So let’s add a few thousand more players to the impact list of “were it not for Alan Osur .. “

Let’s get back to the players. If there were no team, there would be no players. Alan started both teams and the list of AFA rugby graduates gets longer every year. The list of individuals who attained recognition on the field also continues to lengthen, and the impact on our service and countries representative teams continues because Alan Osur say fit to start the program.

Alan's players have also gone on to coach, both back at the Academy as well as other teams, some at very high levels (Air Force teams and Combined Service teams and even other country’s teams have been led by graduates of the program Al started)

How many clubs have been started by ex AFA players? Tonight we have men who started the Davis Monthan Club (right Doug Fry, Terry Williams, Jimmy Carter and Knellinger RIP?), ….. And these clubs continue to offer opportunities to players to enjoy the game Alan and we love… let’s add a few more thousand players to the list of “were it not for Alan Osur”

Referees. Sssssssssssssssssss yes, Alan was also a referee. And, with the help of Colorado Referee Guru Jim Russell, he has influenced in a positive fashion more than one referee. In fact, one of Alan’s players went on to lead and develop a national referee training scheme which stands today as a standard requirement for every referee in the US, to include the one doing the match tomorrow. ….… all because of Alan Osur Administrators. You can’t get very far in this world without having some organizational capabilities. And Alan showed us the way… in fact, (and with a little help from Terry Fleener, ex USA Rugby Executive) some of Alan’s ex-players ended up in the administration of civilian and military club, Unions, Service and Combined services rugby, the later with the goal to get rugby into the Department of Defense as a recognized sport. That was a coordinated team effort by many, to be sure, but our rugby grads played a role and made it successful: rugby is now a fully recognized sport by the DoD. There are Interservice championships held annually that presented opportunity to many of our AFA and graduate players. And we currently have a 2008 grad, an AD Air Force Officer who is in residence at the Olympic Training Center in California where his Air Force duty is to train and compete for a spot on our Olympic National Rugby Team. …were it not for Alan Osur..

Just a few comments about Alan Osur the person.. Again quoting from a grad: “I don't think I ever heard him swear, except for during a couple verses of "Inverness". In fact, I don't really much remember him drinking lots of beer at the parties afterwards. But he was always there... Al could always either put you in your place, when your head was too big, or cheer you up when you were immersed in beating yourself to death out of self-pity. His criticism was concise, to the point, and highly motivational. Call him a role model, an icon or a personal hero. He was, and is a fixture; one of those rare people who can do, and who can inspire others to do, things that are almost impossible for mere mortals.... Still Singing, Wayne Sihrer ’74 (a name some of you know well)

One final story… And Alan, here is where your own words will come back to bite you…

When Alan retired from his IT job, he decided to apply for a civilian position in the Academy’s History Department.  This was in 2006 and he was already the head coach of the women’s team when he applied.  I was able to get a copy of his cover letter and of course, there were several paragraphs about how he was academically suited, actually over qualified for that position, but he said these words which puts things into perspective for us:

As head coach I am in many ways a military training instructor since rugby is an integral part of the cadets’ military training, serving as a hands-on environment for teaching leadership, team work, and self-discipline. As their rugby coach, I helped many cadets with research and writing projects, similar to what I did when I was on the faculty. In spite of our success on the field, I do not believe that record is my most important accomplishment. Instead, what I was able to develop is a TEAM where the players enjoy being with each other, enjoy playing rugby, and enjoy being part of the Academy. My motivation helps players graduate with a positive attitude toward life and the Air Force.

Alan, you may have been right, but I submit you were also modest and short sighted when you only claim influence on cadets. I have shared only a few of the many stories that demonstrate the ripples of your personality and persistent passion for our game…ripples that have spanned to shores far far away from the foothills of Colorado. You have had a profound impact on each of us in this room, either directly or indirectly, and upon literally tens of thousands others who would not have rugby opportunity were that first domino not fall… because of Alan Osur. Ladies and Gentlemen, please stand and join me in honoring our mentor and leader Alan Osur.

The placque on this award states: “The Father of USAFA Rugby. An accomplished Historian and published Professor at The USAF Academy in a career that spanned six decades! As Rugby Coach, you won three national championships in a career spanning five decades. You have enriched the lives of thousands of young men and women.”

Uncle Vern also had a positive and lasting impact on our cadet players. Many a time have we have heard, “if it were not for Vern and rugby, I never would have made it through the Academy”… words said by young individuals whom we now know as Colonels, Generals, CEOs, physicians and so on, a tribute to the man whose dedication to our game and to the Academy cannot be overstated.

He and his wife, Laura, currently reside in Irving Texas.

  Grads and Guests in attendance at the official naming of the Alan Osur Perpetual Fund For Women's Rugby

Left to Right: Tru Eyre (79), , Skip Shackelford (prior coach), Alan Osur,