Feb. 2, 2007

BERKELEY - Former players Kort Schubert and Matt Sherman, both prolific Golden Bears with National Team experience, have joined the Cal coaching staff for the 2007 season as assistants, head coach Jack Clark announced.

"Kort and Sherm are men with outstanding rugby experience as well as great character," Clark said. "Our players will benefit significantly from their involvement. And to think this all comes about through the newly created Ned Anderson Coaching Fund is fantastic."

The hiring of Schubert, the 2002 Cal Athlete of the Year, and Sherman, an All-American and national champion teammate, is made possible by the Ned K. Anderson Coaching Development Fund, named for the standout former Cal football and rugby player, former rugby head coach and current assistant coach for the Golden Bears.

The 27-year-old Schubert, who joins the coaching staff immediately, is recuperating from knee surgery prior to restarting his professional career this summer. The Sacramento native and Jesuit High School alumnus graduated from Cal in 2002 and played as a professional with the Cardiff Blues in Wales from 2004-06. Kort's 48 appearances in a U.S. National Team uniform are the third-most all-time. Schubert was a member of five consecutive national championship teams during his career at Cal as a flanker and back row player.

"It's a great honor to coach rugby at Cal," said Schubert. "Cal's program has done so much for me in terms of my development, both as a rugby player and as a person. I'm excited to be back with the team and eager to pass on the rugby knowledge I've gained throughout my career."

Matt Sherman, also 27, will join the 2007 coaching staff in March after returning from Oxford University, where he played rugby while completing a master's degree in psychology. A three-time All-American (2001-03) and four-time national champion while at Cal, the flyhalf from Piedmont High School has made seven appearances on the U.S. National Team.

Ned Anderson became the Bears' fifth all-time head rugby coach in 1975, succeeding the legendary Miles "Doc" Hudson. Coach Anderson furthered Cal's winning tradition through the '70s, led the Bears to four straight national collegiate championships from 1980-83 and hired as an assistant former player Jack Clark. Anderson remained as an assistant after Clark took the helm in 1984 and stayed close to the program through the ensuing years before returning to the Cal coaching staff in 2003.

Said coach Anderson, "I am delighted to help establish this fund, which will provide the opportunity for young coaches to learn and experience the personal rewards that come from working with the dedicated student-athletes who represent Cal Rugby."

Anderson is a 1967 letterman in football at Cal who captained the 1971 rugby team on its tour of Australia and New Zealand, winning six of nine matches. Cal's results in that historic rugby tour include wins over Queensland University at Ballymore (11-9), New South Wales Country at Dalby (24-13), Australia Capital Territory at Canberra (12-8) and a narrow 12-10 loss to Sydney University. Anderson's sons, Scott and David, both played on national championship teams at Cal.

Cal Rugby welcomes coaches Schubert and Sherman as it celebrates its 125th anniversary season.