Free Jacks’ Head Coach Scott Mathie Honored with His Second Major League Rugby Coach of the Year Award as his MLR Chapter Closes and United Rugby Championship role Awaits

Scott Mathie has again proven his masterful leadership by winning the 2024 Major League Rugby (MLR) Coach of the Year. Mathie’s second Coach of the Year award comes less than two weeks after he led the New England Free Jacks to back-to-back MLR Championships. This award underscores a period of dominance and significant growth for the Free Jacks and the New England rugby community, and is a fairytale finish for Scott Mathie who departs this week to Scotland where he will take up an Assistant Coaching role with Edinburgh Rugby in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Image featuring: Scott Mathie and his son at Veterans Memorial Stadium. 

Mathie’s 3-season tenure with the Free Jacks has seen the Free Jacks win 43 of 54 matches, for a win rate of 79.6%. Perhaps the most impressive feat, has been the league-leading environment which has continued to strengthen year-after-year within the Free Jacks, where the primary objective has been to facilitate joy. An environment where players have been supported to ensure they feel like they belong and can express themselves, believe in a mutual cause, and are challenged to exhibit Free Jack level behaviors on and off-field to contribute to something greater than the individual.

Under Mathie’s navigation of the Free Jacks, the club has become a breeding ground for top international and domestic rugby talent. His ability to identify and develop has resulted in three of his players being named MLR Player of the Year, three years in a row: Beaudein Waaka in 2022, Jayson Potroz in 2023, and Wayne van der Bank in 2024. Additionally, Wian Conradie was honored as Forward of the Year in 2023. A testament to Mathie’s keen eye for talent alongside General Manager Tom Kindley, these awards will remain everlasting reminders of his dedication to fostering a winning culture, and getting the best from their athletes. 

Image featuring: Scott Mathie (center)

Scott Mathie’s journey with the Free Jacks began in September of 2021, and from his first match as Head Coach, a crucial 24-13 victory over NOLA Gold, the Free Jacks faithful knew that Mathie’s leadership was going to be a great fit for the organization. On June 22nd, Scott’s journey came full circle as he celebrated his 50th match as Free Jacks Head Coach against NOLA Gold. Mathie’s 2022 season was nothing short of spectacular, leading New England to a 13-4 record and a record-breaking 10 consecutive wins. In his first season coaching in MLR, Mathie won his first MLR Coach of the Year title.

In 2023, Mathie’s Free Jacks broke a franchise record with a 16-2 season. The side won every home game during the season, and swept the Eastern Conference, beating each of their eastern conference counterparts both home and away. The Eastern Conference final was a showcase of New England’s dominance, with a 25-7 triumph over Old Glory DC. The Free Jacks then faced the San Diego Legion in the 2023 MLR Championship Final, where Le Roux Malan’s iconic try in the 76th minute sealed the deal on the club’s first-ever MLR Championship title. Mathie’s tactical acumen and guidance were pivotal in the club’s achievements, establishing the Free Jacks as the most formidable force in the league.

Image featuring: Scott Mathie (left), Alex Magleby (center) and Mike Rogers (right) at the 2023 Major League Final 2023. 

In 2024, the Free Jacks etched their name into the record books with an 11-5 season and more importantly, a consecutive MLR Championship title with a gritty 20-11 victory over the Seattle Seawolves at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium. Adding another MLR Shield and banner to the collection in Quincy, Mathie placed the Free Jacks in company alongside Seattle, as they became the second team in MLR history to hold two Championships and secure back-to-back titles. 

Aside from winning MLR Shields, Mathie’s impact extends far beyond the pitch at Veterans Memorial Stadium. His commitment to the New England rugby community is evident through his efforts to develop grassroots talent and more importantly, teach the beautiful game of rugby to players of all levels. He organized an Under-18 tour to Kutztown and conducted winter camps for club and collegiate players. Furthermore, Mathie was the mastermind behind the 2024 Coaching Series, where he aimed to elevate community coaching standards. 

Image featuring: (From left to right) Will Webster, Scott Mathie,  Pom Simona and Tom Kindley at the 2024 Major League Final 2023. 

On the personal front, Scott, his wife Leigh, and their son Jackson recently celebrated the arrival of their second child, Boston-born Georgia Mathie, marking another joyous milestone in their lives. 

The 2024 MLR season will be the last for now for Head Coach, Scott Mathie, who recently signed a two-year deal with Edinburgh Rugby in the United Rugby Championship (URC) as an Assistant Coach (attack and backs). The club would like to thank Scott, Leigh, Jackson and Georgia for investing everything they had into the Free Jacks experience, and wishes them the best as they embark on the new adventure to Scotland as a family. 

“This has been the most amazing 3 years in an environment where we got to knit our family and friends into the very fabric of this Free Jack experience and into the rich sporting history of Boston sports,” said Mathie. “I have loved being part of this community and growing a program that has impacted staff, players and fans alike. I will always be a Free Jack, and can’t wait to see the boys run out in 2025! Let’s Ride!”

Image featuring: Scott Mathie Celebrating at the 2023 Eastern Conference Final Championship.  

General Manager, Tom Kindley had the following to say about the departure: “It’s bittersweet, but we are stoked for Scotty, and Leigh. It is a very well deserved opportunity for Scott to coach in what is the premier competition in the world (URC), and we are 100% supportive.
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It goes to show we are hiring the right ambitious coaches, coaches that get their hands dirty and invest everything they have into shifting our club, people and community in the right direction. People are taking notice of what we are building here, as you’ve seen from our last two head coaches getting opportunities in top quality leagues.

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We have nothing but good times, hard work, smiles and a few happy tears, to look back at over the last 3-years with Scotty, and he should be incredibly proud of what he has achieved here. I’d like to say thank you for everything, and good luck to our good friends, the Mathies.
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For the Free Jacks, the show goes on! We have a great base to build off, but the work is only just getting started. We are excited to announce our 2025 coaching group in the near-future.

The Free Jacks have made the replacement Head Coach appointment, which will be announced in due course.

For more opportunities to engage with the Free Jacks community, stay updated on future Free Jacks matches, festivals, and announcements through the Free Jacks’ news page: www.freejacks.com/news