Jennifer Russell named head coach of Gee-Gees women's rugby team
February 17, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees are proud to welcome Jennifer Russell as the head coach of the varsity women's rugby program.
Russell has served as the head coach of Rugby Canada's U18 East women's 15s program since 2022 and was an assistant coach with Canada's U20 women's program in 2024-2025. She has previously coached at the U SPORTS level as head coach of the York University women's rugby team from 2016 to 2020.
"I am incredibly grateful to be given the opportunity to lead a determined, strong and passionate team during this time of great momentum in women's rugby, and women's sport," said Russell. "The Gee-Gees program is well respected and renowned in U SPORTS thanks to the efforts of those who've come before us, and I'm excited to work with the athletes and staff to build on this success, and see where our vision might take us with hard work, great care, and a culture that has us all feeling a part of something special. I'm looking forward to joining the Gee-Gees family, to have my kids running around the field and looking up to the athletes, and to build a home at the university and in Ottawa."
Russell joins the Gee-Gees from her most recent role at Havergal College, where she served as the Director of Student Leadership and coach of the senior and rugby programs. She has also coached with the Toronto Nomads Rugby Football Club and within the Ontario provincial program ranks, where she is the current assistant coach of the Ontario senior west women's team.
A Bolton, Ont. native, Russell holds a Bachelor of Education in Physical Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology from Western University, where she was a star player for the women's rugby program and is a member of the Women's Rugby Hall of Honour.
"We are thrilled to have a coach of Jenn's calibre take the reins and trust she will continue to lead this storied Gee-Gees program to great success in the years to come," said Danika Smith, Associate Director, Varsity Sports at the University of Ottawa. "She has a proven track record of empowering student-athletes on and off the field and we know she will have a positive impact within our culture of excellence at uOttawa."
The Gee-Gees women's rugby team competed at an eleventh consecutive U SPORTS national championship this past season, placing sixth on the heels of a silver medal in the RSEQ final. The team finished with a 5-1 record during the regular season.
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