Princeton University Athletics
Lauren Rhode ’12 *16 Joins Women’s Rugby Coaching Staff
February 12, 2026 | Women's Rugby
PRINCETON, N.J. - Princeton has announced the return of Tiger alumna Lauren Rhode '12 *16 to serve as an assistant coach with the women's rugby program. She will join assistant coach Holly Abrams to lead the Tigers during the 2026 Spring 7s season until Princeton's national search for its next head coach is completed.
"I'm thrilled, humbled, and deeply grateful to be onboard," said Rhode. "I believe Princeton women's rugby has the potential to not only return to national prominence, but more importantly to serve as the defining leadership and character-building experience in our student-athletes' lives to date. We're at an inflection point in the rise of women's sports, and rugby specifically -- we've got the chance to be a beacon of light and lead by example in this defining moment. We've hit the ground running in January with intensity, focus, and clarity on who we're becoming. Fired up for a strong spring season where we'll set the foundation for the coming years!"
As Princeton's only capped USA Eagle (15s national team) in program history, Rhode was an Ivy champion, All-American, and Academic All-American during her time as a Tiger prior to the program's elevation to varsity status. Rhode has gone on to win four National Championships in Rugby 7s and 15s after her collegiate career, and to coach at the youth, high school, collegiate, and semi-pro levels.
Rhode returns to Princeton from Silicon Valley, where she built world-class product and go-to-market teams at technology companies including Webflow, Anaplan, and Babel Street over the past decade. Prior to that, she began her career at the U.S. Department of Defense leading analyst teams through Princeton's highly competitive Scholars in the Nation's Service Initiative (SINSI) fellowship program.
Princeton opens its 2026 Spring 7s schedule, that includes five tournaments, on Mar. 22 in Annapolis, Maryland, at the Navy 7s.
"I'm thrilled, humbled, and deeply grateful to be onboard," said Rhode. "I believe Princeton women's rugby has the potential to not only return to national prominence, but more importantly to serve as the defining leadership and character-building experience in our student-athletes' lives to date. We're at an inflection point in the rise of women's sports, and rugby specifically -- we've got the chance to be a beacon of light and lead by example in this defining moment. We've hit the ground running in January with intensity, focus, and clarity on who we're becoming. Fired up for a strong spring season where we'll set the foundation for the coming years!"
As Princeton's only capped USA Eagle (15s national team) in program history, Rhode was an Ivy champion, All-American, and Academic All-American during her time as a Tiger prior to the program's elevation to varsity status. Rhode has gone on to win four National Championships in Rugby 7s and 15s after her collegiate career, and to coach at the youth, high school, collegiate, and semi-pro levels.
Rhode returns to Princeton from Silicon Valley, where she built world-class product and go-to-market teams at technology companies including Webflow, Anaplan, and Babel Street over the past decade. Prior to that, she began her career at the U.S. Department of Defense leading analyst teams through Princeton's highly competitive Scholars in the Nation's Service Initiative (SINSI) fellowship program.
Princeton opens its 2026 Spring 7s schedule, that includes five tournaments, on Mar. 22 in Annapolis, Maryland, at the Navy 7s.
Beyond The Stripes: Chad Palumbo
Thursday, February 12
Winter 2026 PNC Student-Athlete Achiever Award – Avi Agarwal ’26 & Issy Wunder ’26
Friday, February 06
The Make Shots Podcast - Feb. 5, 2026
Thursday, February 05
Hard Cuts | Season 8 - Episode 6
Wednesday, February 04