WEST CHESTER, Pa.- West Chester University women's rugby head coach
Tony DeRemer and Director of Athletics
Terry Beattie announced the hiring of
Katie Walston as the new full-time assistant coach for the West Chester University women's rugby program ahead of the start of the 2026-27 season. Walston is no stranger to the Golden Ram sidelines as she has served as an assistant coach alongside DeRemer for each of the last two seasons and helped the Golden Rams to their first NIRA Division II Championship game appearance since the 2021 season last fall. Walston began her official tenure as a full-time assistant alongside DeRemer on July 11.
"Having Katie by my side for the past two years has been instrumental to our team's success, and I am thrilled to welcome her into this full-time role," said DeRemer. "Her expanded role will have an immediate, positive impact on our players and the future of Golden Ram Rugby."
Walston, a 2015 graduate of West Chester, returns to the sidelines after a playing career that saw her finish as one of the top players in program history. The school's all-time leading scorer at graduation, Walston scored 371 points in her collegiate career. Her 112 conversions and two drop kicks during her collegiate career remain school records to this day. She is also one of just two players, and was the only player up until the fall 2024 season to successfully convert a drop kick for points in a collegiate match.
"I'm so excited to be brought on full-time with the women's rugby team," opened Walston. "Being able to coach alongside Tony after he coached me over a decade ago is a full-circle moment that I wouldn't change for anything. I can't wait for many more championship runs to come!"
Walston has helped West Chester to NIRA Division II Semifinal appearances in each of her first two seasons and an appearance in the Championship match in 2025 along with top-10 finishes at the Collegiate Rugby 7s Championships in Washington, D.C. in Spring 2025 and 2026.
