BROOKVILLE, N.Y. - Alex Artus has been named Head Women's Rugby Coach, Long Island University Director of Athletics Elliott Charles announced on Thursday. Artus joins LIU after six seasons as the head coach at his alma mater Kutztown University.

Artus graduated from Kutztown with a bachelor's degree in 2014 and played three seasons of rugby before an injury sidelined him for his senior season, sparking his coaching career. He coached forwards for the women's team at Kutztown in 2013-2014 and became a head coach for the first time at Millersville University in 2016, where he coached the men's club team for a season.

Artus returned to Kutztown in the summer of 2018 as the head coach and spent five seasons with the program, leading the Golden Bears to multiple national tournament appearances. In 2022, the Kutztown women's rugby team placed sixth nationally in rugby 7s.

Artus briefly left Kutztown for the 2022-2023 season to serve as the Director of Rugby at Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire, where he led both the men's club and women's varsity programs. He returned to Kutztown for a third stint last summer as the head coach of the women's rugby team for an additional season.

"I am excited to be joining the LIU rugby program and to help contribute to its continued development," said Artus. "I look forward to getting on the pitch, working with the team, and helping the program grow."