Interim Head Coach Shawn Pittman Brings Experience To Utah Warriors

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Warriors head coach Chris Latham stepped down from his role and forward coach Shawn Pittman will be the interim head coach.

Shawn Pittman brings plenty of experience to his new role with the Utah Warriors. He is from Bellingham, Washington and has been involved with rugby professionally as a player and coach for 12 years. Pittman joined the Warriors coaching staff at just 33 years old.

His career began in high school before taking it to the next level when he was called up to the United States U-19 and U-20 teams. In 2008, Pittman played in all five matches of the Junior World Cup in Wales.

He then gained experience in Super League, playing with San Francisco Golden Gate and some international experience with the Canadian Bayside Sharks. Pittman had the opportunity to play overseas when he was invited to join the London Welsh, becoming a fixture in their front row through his two-years there.

“Right in the middle of my contract [with London Welsh], I was very lucky to have the privilege of being selected to play in the 2011 RWC in New Zealand [for the USA],” Pittman said. “It was an experience I will never forget.”

Get to know our new interim head coach Shawn Pittman!

Shawn has extensive rugby experience as both a player and a coach. 🙌
Read more about him and his rugby journey.https://t.co/4OEc8ifbiq pic.twitter.com/EzEboVaURV

— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) January 29, 2021

Pittman moved into a coaching role when he suffered an injury and decided to end his playing career.

“In 2013, I suffered a head injury in a game and decided to step away from the sport as a player and step into a coaching role,” Pittman explained.

He moved back to Washington and accepted a coaching position with Atavus Rugby in 2014. Then he worked with the USA U-20’s as an assistant coach in 2016.

“It was amazing; I never really thought that would be my path,” Pittman said. “Getting to both play and coach in a Rugby World Cup and experience both sides was a special and interesting take on the event. When I originally took the job, we had over ten players that I had personally played rugby with, so it was quite an interesting dynamic.”

Pittman went on to hold key coaching positions with USA Rugby and helping the Seattle Seawolves win the MLR Championship in the first season of the league in 2019, Pittman was hired to join the Warriors as the forwards coach.

“Having Shawn Pittman as our forwards coach last season was awesome, and I am very excited to see what he will do as head coach of the Utah Warriors,” said flanker Bailey Wilson. “The transition was unexpected. However, our core values still stay the same. I think we can expect a very exciting mix of technical and free-flowing rugby this season.”

The Warriors will begin the 2021 season on March 20.