CAMBRIDGE, Mass. –– Harvard women's rugby's Sylvia Braaten has been promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach announced by Coach Mel Denham today.

"It's especially refreshing to be a part of an organization where you feel equally challenged yet supported, and valued.  To be able to work daily with a team committed to pursuing excellence on and off the field and to work to grow the sport I love so dearly is the ultimate blessing." - Sylvia Braaten

"Sylvia has been an integral part of our team and our team's success. She has demonstrated exceptional dedication and has brought unparalleled leadership to our program. Her expertise in rugby, strength and conditioning, lifestyle, and optimizing performance of female athletes have been invaluable to the development of our student-athletes. Sylvia's impact on a team has been duly recognized on the international stage, and we are grateful that she continues to bring that wealth of knowledge to us here at Harvard. Her commitment to our athlete's and team's success and invaluable contributions both on and off the field have earned her the well-deserved promotion to Associate Head Coach. We are grateful to have her with us and I am deeply honored to make this announcement." - Coach Mel Denham

Sylvia Braaten joined Harvard women's rugby as an assistant coach prior to the 2019-20 season, and this is fifth season with the program in 2023-24. Braaten has seen a great deal of success while working for the program, including helping the team win the 15s National Championship in the fall of 2023. In her five years and four competitive season with Harvard, she helped win two national titles in both 2023 and 2019, be a final runner up in 2022, and reached the semi-finals in 2021, along with a 28-7 record overall in this span.