Coaches
Coaching is the most critical component of any youth sports program.
We are very proud of our highly experienced, USA Rugby certified coaches who combine for over 70 years of rugby playing and coaching experience.
our coaches share their passion for rugby while creating team learning environments focused on safety, skill development, teamwork and participation.
Tayler Wiggs
Head coach, 7th-8th grade girls
USA Rugby Level 200 Certified
Tayler first fell in love with rugby at Life University in 2013. Tayler along with several others started the Life University Women's Rugby Club. The club grew to D1 and then to D1 Elite. She was announced on the Women DI College Spring Championship – All-Tournament Team for the front-row position in 2015. Tayler completed all 5 years of playing in college at Life University and played two seasons in the Women's Premiere League (WPL) with the Atlanta Harlequin Club. Tayler's love for rugby brought her down the path to finding her calling in Chiropractic. After playing she became the Life University Women's Rugby Team Manager. Once she finished her Doctorate in Chiropractic she also became the Women's Rugby Traveling Chiropractor. After relocating to Carmel Indiana in 2021 she fell in love with Carmel Rugby's Culture. She completed her USA Rugby level 100 and 200 level coaching certifications. The 2024 Season will be Tayler's 3rd season coaching with CDC Youth rugby. She is also co-head coach for the Carmel High School girls rugby team.
Gerrit Verplank
head coach, 7th-8th grade boys
usa Rugby Level 200 Certified
Gerrit grew up on the sideline of a rugby field, as his dad was heavily involved in bringing rugby to Indianapolis with the inception of the Indy Reds/Centurions. When he started high school at Hamilton Southeastern, the school didn’t have a rugby team so he recruited some friends and they began playing with the Cathedral High School rugby team where Gerrit’s dad was the head coach. The “Royal” in the Cathedral Royal Irish team name, which is still used today, comes from his group of HSE Royals. Gerrit started four years for Cathedral and made the All-State team three times. He also won a State Championship and placed 3rd in the National HS Tournament during his senior season. After high school, Gerrit moved to Kings Lynn, England to play for the West Norfolk Rugby Club, where he played for both the men’s side and the colts U-19 team. After a year in England, he moved back to the U.S. and was selected for the United States U-19 team that toured New Zealand. The following fall, Gerrit joined the rugby team at Indiana University. His team finished as high as fourth in the country in the National D1 tournament and Gerrit was selected to the Midwest All-Star team three times and was also a 2nd team All-American. After college, he continued playing with the Indianapolis Impalas for many years. Gerrit will be coaching his fifth season of CDC rugby in 2024.
Scott Peterson
head coach, 5th-6th grade coed
USA Rugby Level 200 Certified
Scott began playing Rugby in high school for the Royal Irish Rugby Club and continued in college playing at Purdue, where he was selected as an All-American. After graduation he moved to Chicago to play for the Chicago Lions of the then Rugby Super League. Scott’s career in Chicago included 5 years of playing 15’s and 7’s for the Lions which included a 7’s national championship, a 15’s national runner up, and time spent in the men’s national 15’s and 7’s team camps and travelling squads. Upon moving home to Carmel, he continued to play for the Indianapolis Impalas for a few more years. During this time, he began coaching the Royal Irish Rugby Club. He coached the team to four High School Club National Championships, four National Club runner ups and 9 state championships in 10 years. Scott has three sons playing in CDC rugby program.
Evan Roberts
head coach, 2nd-4th grade flag
USA Rugby Level 200 Certified
Evan began playing rugby in high school, where he captained Brownsburg High School to a Tier 2 National Championship. During that same period, Evan was also captain for the Indiana U-19 All-Stars team which earned both the Midwest Regional All-Star Championship and the Eastern Regional All-Star Championship. He continues to play the sport with the Indy Impalas Men’s Rugby Club. Evan earned Rookie of the Year in 2006 and the Impalas have earned several Midwest and National team awards. Evan began his rugby coaching career in 2007 with the 5th/6th grade Brownsburg team and led them to a State Championship in 2008. He has been a coach with CDC Youth Rugby since 2014. Evan's oldest daughter played rugby and his youngest daughter will play for the 2nd-4th grade flag team in 2024.
Scott LeVeque
Commissioner
USA Rugby Level 200 Certified
Scott has been involved with CDC Youth Rugby since 2016 when his daughter began playing the sport with the 2nd-4th grade flag team. Scott assumed the role of CDC Youth Rugby Commissioner in the fall 2017 and has completed USA Rugby Level 100 and Level 200 coaching certifications. Scott’s daughter played CDC rugby for 5 years and went on to play rugby 7’s for the Carmel High girls team. His oldest son played CDC rugby for 6 years and now plays 7’s and 15’s rugby for Carmel High School. His youngest son will play his 6th season of rugby in 2024 as a member of the 7th-8th boys’ team.