Joe Kirsch has been a Social Studies teacher at Fairport High School since 2001. He began his rugby career at Buffalo State College in 1997. He played Number Eight and captained the team for three years including 1999 when Buffalo State won the New York State Championship. Kirsch was named 1999 New York State Collegiate Playoffs Most Valuable Player. Five times Kirsch represented the Western Region in the Empire State Games Sevens Rugby Tournament as a prop in which the Western Region earned three gold and two silver medals. Kirsch continued his rugby career with the Buffalo Old Boys RFC and later the Rochester Aardvarks RFC. Coach Kirsch has competed in various prestigious tournaments such as the Saranac Lake Can-Am Tournament, the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Tournament, Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Sevens, the Toronto Seven’s Invitational and the USA Rugby Men’s Club Sweet 16. In 2003 Kirsch began his Rugby coaching career as founder and head coach of the Fairport Boys Rugby Football Club. Coach Kirsch also coached the University of Rochester Rugby team and won the New York State Rugby Conference Western Division. Kirsch currently actively coaches and plays for the Rochester Aardvarks Rugby Club. Coach Kirsch holds a New York State Coaching Certificate, USA Rugby Coaching Certificate, and is trained in Red Cross CPR and first aid. Coach Kirsch resides in Fairport with his wife Dianna, son Gavin, daughter Gwenith, and youngest daughter Clara.
