Brad Dufek is helping shape the future of collegiate rugby in the United States. As Director of Men’s Rugby for National Collegiate Rugby, a national organization that now governs more than 85% of collegiate rugby, Dufek oversees hundreds of programs, thousands of student-athletes and high-profile events that are drawing attention well beyond the rugby community. Under his leadership, a recent national all-star event brought together more than 300 top players from across the country, earning recognition from national rugby media and a feature by a writer formerly from The Guardian highlighting the sport’s unique ability to connect people, cultures and communities.
For Dufek, he can trace his love of rugby back to his days at UW-Stout. Originally from Ashland, Wis., Dufek arrived at Stout as a three-sport athlete planning to continue a traditional athletics path. Instead, he discovered club rugby and decided to give it a try. What he found was more than a new sport. “Rugby is inclusive, global and values-driven,” he said. “There’s a place for everyone, and the relationships you build last a lifetime.”
What started as curiosity quickly became central to Dufek’s life and career. At Stout, rugby was almost entirely player-run. Student-athletes managed scheduling, travel, budgeting and training, an environment that forced leadership to emerge and problems to be solved collaboratively. Dufek credits these experiences as foundational to his career. “Stout gave me the foundation to figure out what I wanted to pursue,” he said. “Those experiences helped shape how I approach leadership now.”
Beyond the pitch he was deeply involved in campus life, serving as president of the American Marketing Association and participating in professional development opportunities that emphasized communication, organization and leadership. Faculty and staff mentors helped reinforce those skills and encouraged him to think beyond a single career track.
After graduating in December of 2015, Dufek took a leap and moved to Connecticut, launching a career in business development while immersing himself in the local rugby scene. He quickly became involved as a volunteer coach for Quinnipiac University’s NCAA Division I women’s rugby program and Yale University’s men’s club team. Dufek found that balancing corporate work and coaching enhanced his ability to lead, manage people and think strategically. Eventually, Dufek made the decision to pursue rugby full-time, earning his MBA while coaching at the highest collegiate levels.
In 2020, he stepped into a role with an organization that was then a small collegiate initiative. Five years later, it has grown into a multimillion-dollar operation supporting nearly 450 men’s programs and tens of thousands of players nationwide. Through expanded staffing, increased exposure and greater access to resources, the organization has transformed how collegiate rugby is supported in the U.S.
“Our mission is simple,” Dufek said. “Give more to the college game than it has ever had. More opportunity, more development, more access, more support.”
At the same time, Dufek returned to Wisconsin and now works with Madison United Rugby, a nonprofit organization that manages youth programming, community engagement and a rugby-specific facility in Cottage Grove. The facility, which includes dedicated fields, locker rooms and a clubhouse, reflects the global rugby culture Dufek experienced through international travel and competition.
Reflecting on his journey, Dufek says Stout’s practical, hands-on approach made all the difference. “I give a lot of credit to the culture we had at Stout,” he said. “Stout did a really nice job of giving people practical opportunities, no matter what they were interested in.”
For current UW-Stout students and alumni, Dufek encourages openness to the unexpected. “You have to show up, even when it’s uncomfortable,” he said. “Be present, meet people and expose yourself to new experiences. That’s where opportunity comes from.”
