Mike Tolkin
2024
Inductee
According to legend, in 1823, at Rugby School in England, a student, William Webb Ellis, while playing in a soccer match, picked up the ball and ran with it, thus creating the sport of rugby. In 1981, almost sixteen decades later, Mike Tolkin, a 14-year-old soccer player at Xavier High School in New York City, picked up a rugby ball and ran with it. He made an immediate impact at the standoff and fullback positions and helped lead Xavier to East Coast High School Championship titles in his junior and senior years. He was named captain his senior year and led the school to its first of many National High School Championship titles.
Mike continued playing soccer and rugby at St. John’s University and excelled at both sports becoming a D1 Collegiate All-American in soccer and representing the Eastern Rugby Union Collegiate All Stars his senior year. Mike stayed in New York City upon graduation, playing his rugby for the New York Athletic Club (NYAC). NYAC earned USA Rugby playoff berths in 1996 through 2000 while Mike was named NYAC’s MVP in 1990 and 1991 and was a Met NY All Star in 1996 through 1998.
While still playing at NYAC, Mike started his coaching career at his high school alma mater, Xavier High School. The team enjoyed remarkable success with Mike at the helm as Xavier won the East Coast High School Rugby Championship or Northeastern Rugby Union Championship (replaced East Coast HS Rugby Championship in 2003) 18 times. Xavier won the National High School Rugby Championship titles in 1993, 2007 and 2010. While Mike was coach from 1987 to 2011, the Xavier team went on tour of America and the world, including over 10 international trips to countries that included New Zealand, Australia, England, Ireland, France, Scotland, Canada, and Barbados. Bruce McLane states, “This love of travel inspired many Xavier High School players to attain USA Eagles status, including Mike Petri, Seamus Kelly, and Chris Mattina.”
Mike’s passion and dedication to rugby led him to become the head coach of NYAC while still coaching at Xavier. NYAC lost in the Division I National Championship match in 2001 before embarking on a long playoff run from 2004-2010 and were back in contention in 2012. During that stretch, NYAC won US Rugby Super League titles in 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2012. Phil Bailey notes, “Mike Tolkin has not only showcased exceptional skill on the field but has also been a driving force behind the growth and development of rugby in the United States.”
Mike’s international coaching career began as founder and assistant coach of the USA U19 program on tours to Australia and New Zealand every year from 1992 through 1998. He also served as a USA U19 assistant coach at the Jr. Rugby World Cup in 2002-2003.
Mike’s climb up the coaching ladder continued as he was the United States Eagles National Team defense coach from 2009 to 2011. The Eagles played 25 tests, including four matches at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, during that run. He was named head coach of the Eagles in 2012 and held that post through 2015. Mike led the Eagles in 34 test matches, including four at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. During Mike’s tenure at the helm, the Eagles went from being ranked 18th in the world, to 13th.
Although Mike had retired from his Eagles coaching stint, he wasn’t done just yet and became the head coach of the Major League Rugby’s Rugby United New York in 2019, and guided the team to a semi-final spot as his swan song to coaching. He also was a color commentator for MLR telecasts in 2021 and 2022. In 2021, Mike became a minority partner and General Manager of PR7s, a professional 7s rugby league comprised of both men’s and women’s teams throughout the US. In his role, Mike has his hands in just about all aspects of the league.
“Mike's leadership and strategic acumen were evident during his tenure as head coach, guiding the USA Rugby team to the pinnacle of the sport—the Rugby World Cup. Bailey summarizes Tolkin’s career, “His ability to navigate challenges, inspire players, and foster a culture of excellence has played a pivotal role in elevating the standard of rugby in our country.”
A pretty damn good rugby career for a soccer player, don’t you think Mr. Ellis?