Gus Sasso

U8 Head Coach

Peter Boldin

U10 Head Coach

Pete Danahy

U12 Head Coach

Years coached: 7

Coaching Experience: U8 (3 SoCal Titles), U10 (1 SoCal Title), U12 and Coaching Level 100 and 200 certifications.

Playing Experience: University of Arizona (1 year), Arizona State University (2 years), Back Bay RFC (10 years). Positions: Flanker, Lock.

Favorite Rugby memory: National Tournament Sweet 16 trips with Back Bay RFC to Boston and Austin. The 2nd tournament game in Austin was my final match as a competitive player at 35 years old. We lost in the quarterfinals in a torrential downpour to the team that would win the D2 National Championship.

Favorite Rugby memory as a coach: Coaching multiple SoCal Titles with 3 of my best friends.

What do you hope the players learn from you and/or rugby? Having the opportunity to create new rugby memories teaching and coaching the game that I love to my kids and the next generation of ruggers.

Aaron Cook

U14 Head Coach

Years coached: U14 is my 7th year coaching rugby at Back Bay Youth Rugby

Coaching Experience: USA Rugby Coaching Level 100 & 200 Certifications, 2 Season U8 Assistant Coach and 2nd place SoCal Division, 2 Season U10 10s Head Coach 2021 SoCal Division Champions & Undefeated Season in 10s, 2 Season U10 7’s Head Coach 2021 SoCal Multi Tournament Champions & Undefeated Season in 7s, 2 Season U12 12s Head Coach 2023 SoCal Division Champions, 2 Season U12 7’s Head Coach 2023 SoCal 7s Multi Tournament Champions

Playing Experience:

UCSB Inside Center, Outside Center & Winger 1 season, Santa Barbara Grunions Outside Center & Winger 2 seasons, Old Aztecs Outside Center & Winger 1 season, OMBAC Outside Center & Winger 1 season, Back Bay Outside Center & Winger 8 seasons

Elite 8 finish

Final four finish

National championship runner 2nd place finish

Griffins Select Side 2 seasons

Favorite Rugby memory:

There are so many amazing memories as a player: Scoring 3 tries in one half and beating Santa Monica, Traveling to Boston for our Elite 8 finish and drinks with the team after, Traveling to Pittsburgh for our Final four finish, Our loss in the National Championship was heart breaking but still so bitter sweet, Major League Rugby tournaments in Las Vegas, Las Vegas 7s Tournaments, Showing up 5 minutes before our first game at the Eagle Rock 7s tournament and winning in the final

Favorite Rugby memory as a coach:

I love watching these kids grow and develop as rugby players and great friends who carry their relationships to school and other extra-curricular activities; Coming back from Covid in 2021 and Coaching these kids U10s Undefeated Season

U12 SoCal Division Championship

What do you hope the players learn from you and/or rugby? I hope these players learn the game and develop a love like so many of us have for it and all the rugby brothers that we played with. I hope they feel the brotherhood and camaraderie that I have experienced from playing this amazing game. 2/4 Groomsmen in my wedding were teammates. I just returned from the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France with 2 of my good friends and teammates and I have been to 4 Rugby world cups and 7 matches with my good friends and teammates. Lastly, I hope these boys realize that Rugby can be very hard and if you can succeed playing Rugby you can accomplish anything you set your mind to in life.