Meet Our Coaches

Joe Buchtinec: Head Coach HS Boys

Coach Buchtinec bring years of experience as both a rugby player and coach. A founding member and former prop & captain of Medina Rugby, Joe earned a scholarship to Notre Dame College where he played prop/lock. 

During his tenure at NDC, the team had an undefeated season & MARC Conference Champion 2013, MARC Conference Champion & DII National Championships 3rd place finisher in 2014, and ACRC Bowl Series Winner in 2015. 

Buchtinec was also the Head Coach & cofounder of Cleveland State Rugby and an Assistant Coach at Medina Rugby in 2018-2019, before joining Hudson in 2022. He led Hudson to a 2nd-place finish in Ohio State Championships in 2023.

"Doc Sam" Lewis: Head Coach HS Boys

"Doc Sam" has been involved in Northeastern Ohio Rugyb since 1986, when he began his career playing for Hiram College. His journey continued to the East Side Blues (1991-1993) and Life University (1994-1997). 

Passionate for coaching, "Doc Sam"  lead the Walsh Jesuit High School team in 2016-2018 & 2022, and has been a part of the Hudson Rugby Club family since 2019,  coaching our Middle and High School teams.


Chris Reed: Backs Coach HS Boys

Coach Reed, a former Back for Hudson Rugby Club (2013-2016), has been giving back as an Assistant Coach since 2020. In the interim, he played for the University of Akron (2018-2020) and served as a Back for the Cleveland Crusaders DI team (2020-2022).

Rafe Lewis: Backs Coach HS Boys


Coach Lewis joined Hudson Rugby Club coaching staff in 2022, after a successful tenure as a Back for Walsh Jesuit High School (2016-2018). He continued to play for Franciscan University (2018-2022) and was a member of the Great Lakes Thunderbirds in 2022. 


Currently, Coach Lewis is a Back for the Cleveland Crusaders DI Side, as well as a Backs Coach for Hudson Rugby Club.


Cullen Barelka: Forwards Coach HS Boys 

Coach Barelka is a founding member of Medina Rugby, where he served as a captain from 2011-2014, and was an All-Ohio Selects player in 2014. He continued his rugby career with a scholarship from Notre Dame College, where he played Flanker (2014-2018). NDC won the DI-AA National Championship (2017) and Barelka made DI-A Rugby East All- Conference First Team (2017-2018).

Barelka joined Major League Rugby with Washington DC Old Glory and Rugby ATL as a Loosehead Prop and Hooker (2019-2020) and was a Forward for the Cleveland Crusaders DI Side (2020-2023).

Welcomed to the Hudson Rugby family in 2023, Coach Barelka is the Forwards Coach. 


Sloane Hecimovich: 

Head Coach HS Girls

Coach Sloane is an experienced player with over 10 years playing at the collegiate and women’s adult level: "My passion for rugby began when playing in college at the Coast Guard Academy. After graduating I continued to play for teams where I had been stationed to include Seattle, WA, St. Louis, MO, and finally Cleveland, OH. I’m looking forward to using my experience to grow rugby at the high school level through coaching." 

Coach Sloane is a naval engineer in the Coast Guard and enjoys any outdoor activities with Yeti and Hank (pet dogs!).

Anna Walters: Head Coach Middle School

HRC welcomes one of our own as the Head Coach for our middle school teams. Anna Walters (HHS '21) is an HRC alum dating back to 7th grade! She rounded out her career at HHS as a Team Captain with two state titles (2017 & 2021). Walters also captained the Midwest Thunderbirds and Wisconsin Badgers teams (2018-2021) and was named All-American in 2018. Coach Walters is excited to continue building the HRC program at the middle school level!

Michael O'Brien: Asst. Coach Middle School

Coach O'Brien is a man whose life story is a testament to reinvention and resilience. In his early 20s, Mike took the fashion world* by storm, gracing runways in New York City, Paris, and Milan. His sharp features, undeniable charisma, and impeccable style made him a sought-after model, earning him a place among the industry's elite.


After several years of thriving in the modeling world, Mike felt a yearning for intellectual growth and a desire to pursue new challenges. He decided to enroll at George Mason University, where he discovered a passion for rugby, playing Lock, Prop and ultimately (and incongruently) Flyhalf. Upon graduation, Mike was eager to continue his rugby journey. He joined the Northern Virginia Rugby Football Club (NOVA), where he played 15s back as a Lock and and 7s as a Prop. Nature was healing. 


Today, Coach O'Brien continues to live a life filled with adventure and purpose. He remains involved in rugby, now at Hudson Middle School, mentoring young players and inspiring them with his journey of transformation and perseverance. Through each phase of his life, Mike has demonstrated that true success lies in the courage to embrace change and the pursuit of one's passions.  

*Coach O'Brien leads our Modified Tackle team with a subtle sense of humor.

Matt Graser: Asst. Coach Middle School

Andrew Kender: Director Youth Programs

Coach Kender has had a passion for rugby ever since first stepping onto the pitch at The Ohio State University in 2002. Growing up in Dayton, Ohio his rugby foundation was built on the soccer field and the wrestling mat, both giving him the competitive skills to compete on the rugby pitch.  Kender was the team’s kicker and played the wing position for much of his career.  

After playing four years of Division 1 NCAA rugby, he went on to Life Chiropractic College to play on a rugby scholarship and receive his Chiropractic degree.  At Life University in Atlanta, GA, Coach Kender boasts a division 1 Men’s National Championship in 2008 where he scored the game winning kick!  

He now resides in Hudson with his family and coaches the Hudson Youth Rugby program bringing dedication and knowledge of the sport to the future ruggers in northeast Ohio.  He still likes to play sports competitively and you can often find him on the Akron men’s Hurling team and various men’s league soccer teams.

Zaid Khatib: Coach Youth Programs

Coach Khatib has 15 years of playing experience. He competed at Kent State University, followed by a successful career at the men’s level, primarily with Akron RFC, along with selections to the Ohio Select team for the regional championships, and the CARPS and Crusaders in the Midwest 7s qualifier division. 

He is a Northeast Ohio native, and works as a sports medicine physician for Akron Children’s Hospital. He has the love and support of his wife Patty, and is now passing the torch to his two children, Vincent and Elena, who have also caught the rugby bug. Coach Khatib coaches for our various youth teams.