TEAM | Chicago North Shore

COACHING STAFF

John E. Coumbe-Lilley

Director of Rugby & Head Coach

John joined North Shore in summer 2019 and helped the team to a 23-4-1 record achieving 4 tournament victories, 2nd place in the Midwest from seven events in the team’s first proper sevens season. John’s focuses on player development for Women’s Premier League Competition and the Midwest Sevens Series. He brings 28 years of experience coaching women’s rugby through age grades, college, club, provincial and national team levels in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. In the Women’s 2014 Rugby World Cup, John worked with more players who started for their teams than any other coach at the tournament. He is a USA Rugby Level 300 Coach and Rugby Football League Level 3 coach. John works to create the best possible conditions for all players at North Shore to have positive and quality rugby experiences.

John’s playing experience includes a single appearance for Scotland Rugby League, four appearances for Great Britain Students Rugby League, London Irish RUFC, Kent & Irish Exiles U21, and an appearance for London Crusaders RFLC. John moved to Chicago in 1997 and played for the Chicago Westside Condors in their highlight years. Many coaches who John played for influenced his approach including Ross Strudwick (Australia) at London Crusaders, John Kear & John Kain for Great Britain Rugby league Students, John Risman for Scotland Rugby League, Kevin Short at London Irish, Andy Cushing & John Mahon at London Scottish (all United kingdom) and Steve Hotton (New Zealand) at Rugby Lions.

John works as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Start a conversation with John about coaching, player development or recruitment by emailing him at: jcl@northshorerugby.com or connect with him through LinkedIn.

Noby Takaki

Assistant Coach

While in undergrad at UIC, Noby joined North Shore for 7s in 2000 and has been a part of the organization ever since. With 20 years of experience in the tight five, Noby is pivoting from player to tight five specialist and has joined the North Shore coaching staff in 2021. Noby strives to bring development and growth to the tight five with her extensive experience playing in multiple USA Rugby championship series, including the 2011 Division 1 Championship, as well as appearances at regional and national level Eagle camps. We are excited to have Noby on the coaching staff not just for her rugby credentials but also for her leadership and history with the club.

Noby is a USA Rugby Level 200 Coach as well as a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Outside of rugby, Noby is Vice President of Wellness for a Real Estate Investment firm based in Chicago.