Winning a national championship is an accomplishment most teams spend years working toward. For the SNU women’s rugby team, the challenge now is proving that success was not a one-time achievement. Coming off last year’s national championship, the team is building on that success with a growing roster, a strong team culture and a commitment to improving every day.
Head coach Aric Gilliland believes becoming a champion requires more than success on the field. A Yukon, Oklahoma, native and SNU alumnus from the class of 2001, Gilliland has a history with SNU athletics. He played on the university’s inaugural football team under Paul McGrady before going on to play rugby for the OKC Crusaders. Now, he is helping lead the women’s rugby program as it works to build on its championship season.
“Winning the championship means we beat everyone we needed to in order to take the crown, but it doesn’t mean we’ve reached our potential,” Gilliland said.
For Gilliland, last year’s victory did not mean the team had accomplished everything it could. Instead, it raised the standard for what the players expect from themselves. He wants them to bring the same effort to everyday practices that they bring to the biggest games of the season.
“We need to reach and maintain a championship standard when it’s just us, at training, no cameras, no crowd, no prize,” Gilliland said. “Living and training at that level is hard work and requires constant attention and detail.”
The team has also experienced significant roster growth heading into this season. SNU returned all but two players from last year’s roster and added 15 newcomers, including freshmen and transfers. With 45 players, the program now has its largest roster ever.
The returning players bring experience from the championship run, while the newcomers add fresh talent and opportunities for growth. However, Gilliland believes that a successful roster depends on more than the number of players or their individual abilities. The team must share a common understanding of its standards and be willing to hold one another accountable.
When describing the team’s chemistry, Gilliland prefers the word “culture.” He believes a strong culture develops when everyone understands the expectations and commits to meeting them together.
“When you have a strong culture and high standards that everyone agrees to, little mishaps and even big road bumps are really just little blips on the radar because you have a strong foundation and trajectory on which you can fall back on,” Gilliland said.
That mindset is especially important for a team coming off a national championship. Opponents naturally want the opportunity to defeat the reigning champions, but Gilliland said his team does not spend time worrying about having a target on its back. Instead, the focus remains on what the players can control.
“Of course everyone wants to knock off number one,” Gilliland said. “But our biggest competition is ourselves. We have to get better every day and hold each other accountable to the standard.”
Gilliland’s approach to coaching emphasizes measurable standards rather than expectations that can become sources of disappointment. When players fall short, the goal is to recognize the problem, learn from it and find ways to improve.
As the season continues, another championship remains a possibility. However, Gilliland said winning a title is not the only measure of success. He wants his players and coaching staff to finish the season knowing they committed themselves fully to the process and gave their best effort.
“Our goals are high. Of course we know that we have a chance to play for another championship, but that isn’t our driver,” Gilliland said. “We want to be champions, not just win championships.”
For the SNU women’s rugby team, that distinction captures the mindset behind its pursuit of continued success. Winning championships is the goal, but becoming a championship-caliber team requires commitment long before the final whistle. With an experienced roster, new talent and a culture built around accountability, the team is working to make last year’s success the foundation for what comes next.
Photos provided by: Aric Gilliland