Chicago City Wire

With the 2025 Major League Rugby season approaching, newly appointed Chicago Hounds Head Coach Chris Latham has been working on assembling his coaching staff. The Hounds announced today that Todd Dammers will serve as Forwards Coach and Noel Reid will take on the role of Backs Coach.

“Todd is a highly knowledgeable and experienced coach across all areas of rugby,” stated Latham. “He’s coached at all levels of rugby and has a reputation for producing a strong set piece with the ability to develop individual skill sets and install the highest training standards to his players.”

Latham and Dammers previously collaborated at South’s Rugby Club in Australia. Dammers brings extensive coaching experience, including roles in club, professional, and international rugby.

Before the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Dammers joined the Samoan national team’s coaching staff. He was responsible for their lineout and led coaching in the tackle and collision area. During his tenure, Samoa's lineout achieved an 89% success rate, disrupted opponents' set pieces consistently, and improved their turnover margin by 20%. These efforts helped Samoa qualify for the 2019 World Cup.

Dammers began his coaching career in Japan's University league in 2003 with Meiji University as Forwards Coach before being promoted to Interim Head Coach. After three successful seasons with Meiji, he returned to Australia to work with Nudgee College as Director of Rugby and Head Coach.

He spent four years at Nudgee before moving to Sydney University as Director of Rugby in 2011. Under his guidance, Sydney University reached the Shute Shield finals in 2011 and won the competition in 2012. Concurrently, he served as Forwards Coach for the 1st Grade team.

Between roles at Nudgee College and Sydney University, Dammers secured his first professional coaching contract with Ricoh Black Rams in Japan’s Top League as Forwards and Breakdown coach. He emphasized set piece effectiveness, achieving high performance metrics: an 87% effective lineout rate and a 91% effective scrum rate while improving defensive standings significantly.

In 2015, Brisbane GPS Rugby appointed Dammers as Head Coach where he became the youngest winning coach in fifty years after securing a premiership title. This success led him to become Head Coach of South’s Rugby Colts in 2017. Over six years competing in the Hospitals Cup, he led the Colts to their first-ever title in 2019.

Noel Reid joins as Backs Coach following an impressive playing career with teams such as Leinster, Agen, Leicester Tigers, London Irish, and Toronto Arrows. Transitioning into coaching after retiring from playing in 2023, Reid took on head coaching duties at Markham Irish Rugby Club in Ontario.

Reid also contributes to the Rugby Academy's coaching panel since its inception in 2024. The Academy aims to immerse emerging North American rugby players into a professional setting where Reid leads attack and skill sessions.

“We are delighted that Todd and Noel will be joining Chris to round off our coaching staff for 2025,” added Hounds CEO and General Manager James English. “Todd brings International coaching experience having worked with Chris in the past with Samoa, and Noel is a rising coach with huge potential.”

Hounds fans can look forward to seeing Latham and his assistant coaches soon. The Season Ticket Renewal Period opens on Monday, October 14th for current ticket holders who will receive renewal instructions via email. Season tickets will be available to the general public starting Monday, November 1st.