Natascha Wesch retires, John Weller named head coach of Western women's rugby program

LONDON, Ont. – Natascha Wesch, the long-time head coach of the Western women's rugby team, has decided to retire after 22 years as the leader of the program. John Weller, who served as an assistant coach with the team this past season, has been named the Mustangs new head coach.
 
"I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Western Mustangs family and am thankful for the many memories I have made," said Wesch. "Western women's rugby has been my identity and my life for over two decades and I am honoured to have had the privilege to work with so many talented athletes and coaches over the years."
 
"We will miss Natascha and her leadership," said Thérèse Quigley, Western's Director of Sport and Recreation Services. "Natascha is a pioneer in CIS women's rugby, and has established a very strong program here at Western. We wish her continued success in all of her future endeavours."
 
In her 22 years at the helm, Wesch shaped Western's women's rugby program into one of the top teams in the nation, and under her watch the Mustangs earned back-to-back CIS national championships in 2004 and 2005.
 
She also led the purple and white to silver medals in 2008 and 2009, a bronze medal in 2014, and was a driving force behind Western hosting the CIS Women's Rugby Championship in 2006 and 2007. In addition, under Wesch's leadership the Mustangs captured 15 OUA medals, including four OUA Championship titles.
 
A CIS Coach of the Year and three-time OUA Coach of the Year, Wesch will remain at Western as an assistant professor in the departments of Kinesiology and Health Studies in the Faculty of Health Sciences. She will also focus her time on building her private practice in sport psychology.
 
New head coach John Weller brings decades of experience as an athlete, coach, referee, and administrator to the program.
 
"We're excited to have John coming on board as our new head coach," said Quigley. "John brings experience from around the world, but also has the knowledge and experience with our program after serving as a member of our coaching staff for the past two seasons."
 
"I am very excited to continue my involvement with the Western women's rugby program at such a pivotal time for the sport," said Weller. "I look forward to working with each team member to help them to achieve their potential as a student, athlete and individual."
 
A World Rugby Introduction to Competition (Level 2) certified coach, Weller's leadership on the sidelines began with the Montreal Irish u18. He spent two years revitalizing the program to see the team become Provincial Champions in 2009. He then moved to Lakeside Academy where he assisted in the development of a formal rugby program who made the playoffs every year of his tenure.
 
In more recent years he has become a mainstay within London's rugby community through his involvement with London St. George's Rugby Football Club. During his time with the program, he created girl's and boy's teams that cater to athletes aged six through twelve and took on higher level coaching roles with the u16 and u18 girl's teams, while also spending a year with the u18 boys.
 
An IRB level two referee, in 2014 he officially joined the Mustang family as the women's rugby laws advisor before transitioning into an assistant coaching role for the following season.
 
Also continuing on with the coaching staff is assistant coach Derek Daypuck, a former Canadian national team standout with both the 15s and 7s.