From Player to Coach: Graeme Moffat’s Coaching Journey

Graeme Moffat has spent his life in rugby—first as a player, and for nearly two decades as a coach. Today, he is the head coach of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorn women’s rugby team and the university’s Manager of High Performance Coaching. In 2024, he was named Canada West Women’s Rugby Coach of the Year, recognition of his ability to guide a young, developing team to a bronze medal at the conference championships.

For Graeme, coaching was a natural transition after years of playing. “My dad played rugby and was a coach, so I probably followed in his footsteps,” he shared. Knee injuries ended his playing career earlier than he hoped, but coaching opened a new door. He started as a player-coach, moved into development officer roles with Scottish Rugby, and eventually relocated to Canada in 2010 for a full-time coaching opportunity. Fifteen years later, he’s still here, deeply embedded in Canadian rugby at both community and national levels.

His coaching philosophy has evolved over the years, but certain values have remained constant. “I want to create the best possible environment for people to thrive. I want to recognize effort, celebrate success, and challenge underperformance,” he explained. Authenticity is central to his approach: “You have to be genuine because if you’re not, the players will know. Coaching gets easier when you figure out who you are and stay true to that.”

Among his many experiences, Graeme points to the 2015 Rugby World Cup as a career highlight. As an assistant coach with Canada’s men’s national team, he stood on the sidelines at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in front of 70,000 fans. “The game, the atmosphere, the people—it was incredible,” he recalled. But for him, the greatest achievement is simpler: seeing athletes succeed. “The biggest achievement is helping other people reach their goals,” he said.

Coaching is also a family affair for Graeme. His wife, a former national team player and coach herself, and their two children have been part of the journey every step of the way. From pushing a stroller with a bag of rugby balls slung over his shoulder to having his kids welcomed into team environments, rugby has always been woven into family life.

While honoured to receive awards such as Rugby Canada Coach of the Year, multiple provincial coaching accolades, and most recently recognition from the Lethbridge Sport Council, Graeme is quick to deflect credit. “I’m just the figurehead of the team’s success on the field,” he said. “It’s really about the athletes and the coaches I get to work alongside. Coaching is demanding, but it’s also the most rewarding job I could imagine.”