All Army Rugby Team in the Media

(Colorado Springs, CO) 11 October, 2001 --

Coach, administrator and referee Dean Hahn is USA Rugby's new Director of Operations.

Hahn has stepped away from a 16-year Army career to join the National Office in Colorado Springs and manage its day-to-day business.

"We welcome Dean's experience and expertise to the organization,"  said USA Rugby President Anne Barry. "His presence in the office will boost our efforts to serve members efficiently and

effectively."

A volunteer administrator with the Iowa Rugby Union in recent years, Hahn was  elected to USA Rugby's Board of Directors this past January. He will resign his seat in order to take the staff

position.

With USA Rugby's membership approaching 40,000, the National Office had a need for more capacity, according to Barry. Hahn has an extensive professional background in logistics and management

and is also a certified referee and coach.

Hahn's hire and his focus on daily operations will allow Executive Director Mark Rudolph to concentrate on fundraising efforts for USA Rugby projects such as youth development, coaching clinics,

referee development and member services.

An Army Ranger with expertise in surveillance and airborne operations, Hahn has also spent more than six years as a senior noncommissioned officer in a service and support battalion, a job that involves planning, coordination and supervision of training and combat operations.

Hahn, who has coached the Des Moines Women's Rugby club and the Iowa Select Side, is also a C1 Referee. He will begin fulltime work in the Colorado Springs office in November