Michael Mukuru has served as Head Coach of La Costa Canyon Mavericks Rugby since the 2021–22 season, building a program centered on competitive excellence, leadership, community, and personal development.

Michael began playing rugby at age 13 at a Catholic boarding school in Uganda before continuing his playing career in the United States. His playing accomplishments include five consecutive collegiate division championships, back-to-back national championships with the Pacific Coast Grizzlies in 2018 and 2019, serving as captain and earning team MVP honors in 2019, and recognition as a Collegiate All-American.

Since taking over the Mavericks, Michael has led LCC to two Division II championships: 2021–22 and the 2023–24 All In season. The program moved into Division I for the 2024–25 Providence season, finishing as D1 runners-up. In 2025–26, the Mavericks advanced to the SoCal Final, where they fell to Torrey Pines, who went on to reach the State Final.

Michael believes strongly that what happens off the field impacts what happens on it. The habits, relationships, standards, adversity, families and communities surrounding an athlete all contribute to the player—and person—who eventually takes the field. For that reason, developing better rugby players cannot be separated from developing better leaders and stronger young people.

That philosophy leads into the Mavericks’ 2026–27 theme: Kingdom.

The Game is King.

Not because rugby is more important than life, but because everything in life can influence how we serve the game. Family matters. Community matters. Character matters. Preparation matters. Leadership matters. The Kingdom is everything we build around the game that allows our players and program to thrive.

The Mavericks therefore seek not only to win matches, but to build an environment worthy of winning them.

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My name is Mike Otair, This will be my 6th year Coaching at LCC. I want to start off by saying that it is an honor and a privilege to be able to be part of the community like this and also having the ability to coach these young men on and off the field. My background has always been in team sports since age 5. I've played many sports to include baseball, football, and basketball. Once a freshman in college at California Maritime Academy I found the love for the game of rugby. As a new player I knew it was important to learn the game and gain any edge I could as a new player. I was able to earn defensive honors as well as Captain selection. This is now my 12th year in rugby (7 coaching and 5 playing). As a player I always enjoyed playing defense, implementing strategy, and getting small edges. Naturally this worked well playing flanker. As a coach these things nicely transitioned. Overall, my specialties are line-outs, defense, and overall team strategies. I really look forward to and relish the opportunity to be able to coach the forwards and whole team this year alongside my good friend and Head Coach Michael Mukuru. Roll Hyde. “Kingdom”

I grew up around biltong, braais, and rugby. I played all through school and for fun in the neighborhood. I started as a hooker and worked my way to prop in the last couple years. My U12 team was 2nd in the North West Province.

After graduating, I worked and traveled around Europe for a couple years. Unfortunately a shoulder injury in the first game I played in England pretty much ended my playing time. Fortunately I met my wife Amy shortly after, who was on a trip with friends from San Diego and we thought best to raise our family here.

My coaching experience started when my twin boys Camden and Fitzgerald, started playing sports. Over the years I’ve coached a season of PeeWee soccer, a coupled seasons of baseball, eight seasons of flag football and two great seasons with LCC Mavericks Rugby.

My goal is also, to further my knowledge through training classes in different aspects of the game. This will give me a better overall perspective and help me with coaching.

I love rugby because of all the many life lessons it teaches and the community it builds around the world.

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Reuben Spilkin brings more than three decades of rugby experience as a player, coach, program director, and administrator in the United States and South Africa. A longtime member of the Mavericks Rugby community, Reuben has played an important role in the development of both the boys' and girls' programs at La Costa Canyon.

Reuben served as Head Coach of LCC Rugby from 2013 through 2017, helping build the program into one of Southern California’s strongest high school teams. Under his leadership, the Mavericks captured the 2016 Southern California league championship, put together a 22-match undefeated run, and finished as league runners-up in 2017. He later served as LCC Director of Rugby for both the boys' and girls' programs and has continued to coach and manage Mavericks teams, including the highly successful Girls 7s program and the JV Boys.

His coaching résumé extends well beyond LCC. Reuben has coached with UC San Diego, San Diego State, the Old Aztecs, Coastal Dragons Youth Rugby, the Southern California Griffins U18 program, and Rhino Rugby Academy. While an assistant coach at San Diego State, the Aztecs won the 2012 Pacific Conference Championship and finished as national runners-up in Division I-AA. He has also served as Director of Rugby for the Coastal Dragons, overseeing coaching standards and development across more than 30 youth coaches from U8 through U18.

Originally from South Africa, Reuben played first-team high school rugby and advanced through provincial selection trials before continuing his rugby career in the United States. His playing accomplishments include representing the USA in Touch Rugby at the 1994 World Cup, being a member of OMBAC’s 1995–96 national championship squad, and winning a gold medal representing the United States at the 1997 Maccabiah Games in Israel. He continues to play touring rugby with South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Old Crocs over-50s side.

Reuben holds USA Rugby coaching certifications and has completed the World Rugby Ready program as well as coaching development through the New Zealand Rugby Academy. His experience as an elite athlete extends beyond rugby: he is an Ironman finisher, marathoner and endurance athlete who has summited Mount Kilimanjaro.

Reuben’s combination of playing experience, technical coaching knowledge and long-standing commitment to youth rugby has made him an integral part of the Mavericks program and the development of rugby throughout the San Diego community.

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Andre “Bo” Bosier is a retired United States Marine Corps Master Sergeant who served 22 years in Reconnaissance and Marine Special Operations. He previously served as Head of Rugby Operations and Mental Skills Coach for the San Diego Legion. Most recently, Bo helped the USA Men’s Sevens program reach Tier 1 status through his work in mindset, leadership, and mental performance.

Bo currently plays for the North County Gurkhas and Old Breed Rugby Club and serves as president of the Gurkhas. The Gurkhas’ mission is to develop exceptional men through rugby by cultivating brotherhood, resilience, leadership, and service while strengthening the communities they call home. Having also coached football at La Costa Canyon High School, Bo volunteers with LCC Boys Rugby to develop players’ composure, confidence, accountability, and leadership—qualities that build better competitors and dependable young men.

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Aleksander Tyszka is entering his third season as a Varsity Assistant Coach with La Costa Canyon Mavericks Rugby. He works primarily with the forwards, focusing on lineouts, technical precision, and player development.

Raised in France, Aleksander played several sports before discovering rugby with Sèvres-Chaville Rugby Club. He began at lock before moving to flanker and later played semi-professionally for Stade Nantais (National 2) and Beaumont-de-Lomagne Rugby. At Polytech Nantes, he captained the school’s team and represented Nantes in inter-university competition. During his final season, Polytech Nantes lost just once across approximately 50 matches, won the inter-Polytech tournament, captured university titles in both sevens and fifteens, and received special recognition from the Académie de Nantes.

After moving to San Francisco, Aleksander played five seasons with the Bay Area Baracus, earning Rookie of the Year honors in his first season and team MVP in his final season.

Aleksander began coaching to give back through the sport that shaped his own development. Rugby taught him respect, camaraderie, self-confidence, and leadership. Values that extend far beyond competition and that he hopes to pass on to young players.

His coaching philosophy is grounded in discipline and mindset. By emphasizing preparation, technical precision, accountability, and the belief that hard work always pays off, Aleksander aims to develop better competitors, dependable teammates, and confident young men.

Brian Dunphy has served as Director of Rugby for La Costa Canyon Mavericks Rugby since 2025 and has been actively involved with the program since 2023. In his role, Brian oversees the broader development and operations of the Mavericks boys and girls rugby programs, with a focus on building a strong, sustainable program for LCC student-athletes.

Brian brings extensive experience in youth sports leadership and community involvement. He served on the Board of La Costa Canyon Pop Warner from 2018 through 2025, including multiple years as President. During his tenure, the organization grew by more than 150%, expanding participation while strengthening its operational and community foundation.

Beyond rugby, Brian is an active volunteer at La Costa Canyon High School and has played a significant role in fundraising efforts supporting the Maverick Athletic Center (MAC), including helping lead fundraising for equipment and resources designed to benefit student-athletes across multiple LCC sports.

His rugby involvement also extends beyond the Mavericks program. In 2026, Brian served as Team Manager for the San Diego Legion Academy U18 team during its international tour of Australia and Fiji, managing team operations and logistics throughout the tour.

Brian and his family are deeply connected to the LCC community. His son, Liam, Class of 2027, competes in both football and rugby, while his daughter, Lillian, Class of 2029, is a member of the LCC Cheer program.

As Director of Rugby, Brian’s focus is on continuing to elevate Mavericks Rugby through strong leadership, coaching support, program organization, player development, community engagement, and expanded opportunities for both boys and girls to compete and grow through the sport.