GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Davenport men's rugby program will have a new head coach as they prepare for the upcoming spring sevens season. Dustin Steedman, who has been on the sidelines since the 2020-21 season and guided the Panthers to great success and national recognition, has decided to step aside to pursue a professional career in real estate in the Houston, Texas area. Former Davenport and Major League Rugby player Dominique (Dom) Bailey, who has been an assistant coach with the program under Steedman, will take over as head coach for the Panthers.

"Dom has brought a lot to the team in the past three years in terms of our on the field play and team culture," said Steedman. "I can only see his contributions as the head of Davenport men's rugby getting better both on and off the field."

Davenport has competed in the Mid-South D1A conference and now the Midwest D1A conference. They have a culture as one of the most resilience and tough-minded programs simply because winning games in those conferences can be quite difficult. This fall, Davenport was 6-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play. They captured wins over Ohio State, Wheeling, Aquinas, Marian, Adrian, and McKendree. Over the last two seasons, the Panthers made the D1A playoffs losing to Arkansas State and also to Army in the first round in games that were within a try. 

"When I first learned that coach Steedman would be leaving Davenport, it was a surprise," said Bailey. "My connection to him began in 2017, when he came on as an assistant coach during my senior year. From that moment, he became more than just a coach to me. He became a mentor and our relationship grew stronger, knowing my college career was coming to an end. Five years later, I returned to Davenport during my offseason as an assistant coach, eager to pass on the knowledge and experience I had gained throughout my career. Even though we worked side by side as coaches, Dustin continued to guide me as I honed my coaching skills. There's an old saying in rugby: "When you put on that jersey, leave it in a better place than how you found it." Coach Steedman embodied this ethos every day. Under his leadership, the men's rugby program flourished—growing not only in skill and knowledge, but also in academic performance, recruitment, and culture. While I am saddened to see my mentor leave, I am excited for the new opportunities that await him and myself."

Bailey attended Davenport from 2012-2017, earning his BBA in Marketing, and played rugby for the entire duration of his college career. In 2015, DU made it to the D1A National Semifinals. He earned USA Rugby Men's Collegiate All-American Honorable Mention honors in 2014, 2015, and 2016, and was also named to the Men's Collegiate All-American Sevens team in 2017. That same year, he was invited into the USA Sevens player pool.

After graduation, Bailey signed his first professional contract with the Austin Elite in Major League Rugby (MLR), where he played for five years before joining D.C. Old Glory for a final season. In addition, he also played for the Headliners in the PR7s league in 2022 and 2023. His coaching career began in the fall of 2021 when he joined Davenport as an assistant coach. Additionally, during his time in D.C., he served as the assistant coach for NOVA Women's Rugby, helping them capture the Division 1 National Championship. Currently, Bailey is the head coach for the Grand Rapids Gazelles men's D2 team, as well as an assistant coach for the Grand Rapids Growlers women's team, which recently claimed the Midwest Championship this fall.

"I am truly excited and grateful for this opportunity to lead the Davenport University men's rugby program." commented Bailey. "Coach Steedman set a high standard, and I am ready to build upon the solid foundation he established. My vision is simple: to elevate this program into a powerhouse. This means developing multiple teams, claiming the top spot in our conference, and ultimately securing a national championship—an achievement this program has yet to reach. The players in this program are more than capable of achieving greatness. As their coach, I am committed to helping them develop their skills, push their limits, and reach new heights. We are excited for the future, and we can't wait to show the rugby world what Davenport University men's rugby is truly capable of."