UPLIFT, UNITE & ENTERTAIN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE THRILLING SPORT THAT IS RUGBY
Golden Dogs Club Mission
Our club is proudly comprised of women & men who thoroughly represent the Central Valley's diverse communities and ethnicities. Our two founding goals include:
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1) Create an inclusive space that develops athletes into high-performing rugby players that represent the Central Valley.
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2) To provide our community with unmatched family-friendly excitement on game-days, but that is also focused year-round on providing our underserved communities access to a positive outlet for mentorship & camaraderie..
LEADERSHIP TEAM
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COACH
CHRIS ALLARD
President/Head Coach
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Meet Coach Allard: an H-Town kid with Trinidadian roots. He stumbled upon rugby in high school and fell head-over-cleats in love with the game that gave him more than he could've asked for.
His rugby journey led him from the Lone Star State to Arkansas State University, where he was recruited for their highly-ranked Rugby program and Head Coach, Curtis Huckaby.
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His post-grad journey landed him on a cross-country adventure to make the Central Valley home, which is where he got his coaching start working with Roosevelt HS Boys Rugby Club followed by helping launch the Edison HS Boys Program.
His most recent coaching success (outside the Golden Dogs) was being a part of Fresno State Men's Rugby Club coaching staff that led them to an undefeated D1AA National Champion season in 2022. ​
Personal motto: "It's only crazy until you make it happen."
MELISSA
D.P.A.
Vice President
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Meet Melissa: A former NCAA tennis player who was recruited from her home city (Dubai U.A.E.), and after experiencing life across the country in small-towns of America, now calls Fresno home and HQ for her family and business.
Through sports, business and community-projects, her ‘professional north star’ leads towards leveling the playing-field for women & underrepresented communities by creating opportunities and bridging gaps to resources and information.
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As an international player with now over 14 years coaching time and multiple roles in professional sports events management, she’s committed to using those experiences to help the Golden Dogs achieve their mission and support this organization’s growth to accurately represent the culture, depth and grit of this region on as many stages as possible.
COACH
PATRICK QUAN
Coaching & Recruitment Advisor
Meet Coach Quan, a California native with a career as diverse as our Golden State's landscapes. His career spans from entrepreneurial start-ups in the early 1990’s in a revitalized downtown San Diego, to introducing, marketing and distributing new product categories through the early 2000’s.
Coach Quan's rugby resumé is equally illustrious. Though he started off as a soccer recruit at San Diego State University, he found his home on the rugby field, eventually winning a National Championship with the Aztec ‘87 team and another in '91 while playing for the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club. This was preceded by great rugby times throughout the central coast, and finally into the Central Valley with the Fresno Men’s Club.
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Along with his teenage son, he started the first high-school rugby program in the Valley at Bullard High School. The success there led to him creating the Central California Rugby Foundation and launched a seven-team high school league.
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In 2014, he was part of the group that formed the Bulldog Rugby Foundation in support of Fresno State Men’s Rugby Team and was appointed as the head coach of the men’s rugby program. Over the years, the team has evolved from the lowest rankings of the league to National Champions in 2022.
COACH MEGAN 'MO' OLESKI
Assistant Coach
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Meet Coach Mo: her rugby journey in 2017 as a junior with Fresno State Women’s Rugby club. Back then, she had a penchant for weight lifting, and one of her workout buddies invited her to a practice session. After the initial taste of contact during that first night, Coach Mo found herself irresistibly drawn to the sport.
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Starting off in the role of a flanker and eventually transitioning to number 8, Coach Mo's journey unfolded with determination. In 2018, she clinched the conference champion title in Division II 15s, marking the beginning of her notable achievements. The subsequent year, 2019, proved to be a pinnacle in her rugby career, as she secured conference and national champion titles in Division II 15s, along with a commendable second-place finish nationally in Division II 7s.
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Coach Mo transitioned from a player to a coaching role shortly after joining the Golden Dogs Rugby Club, as a way to support the growth of the game after retiring from her playing career. She brings all her women's collegiate knowledge to our club which is a great complement to our coaching staff.
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While pursuing her education, Coach Mo graduated in 2019 with a B.S. in Criminology - Victimology Option. Today, she applies her skills and knowledge as a data analyst at a local medical school, showcasing her diverse talents and dedication to her profession.