Matoko Noudehou

2013-2017

Center (12/13)

Biography

I loved everything about my four years as a badger. I was honored to captain the team, serve as merchandising chair and go on two tours to Texas and France with the team. The highlight of my badger career was winning the Big Ten in 2014.

Please share a fun fact about you or your favorite rugby memory.

Coming Soon!

Is there a specific achievement or contribution you're especially proud of from your time on the team?

Winning the Big 10 in 2014 was my greatest achievement as a badger.

What have you been up to since graduating, or how did rugby impact your post-college life?

Rugby greatly impacted my life. I became a strength and conditioning coach to stay close to sports and eventually pursed working in professional rugby in America. I am now a physical performance coach in the MLR and for USA Rugby.

Who were your most influential coaches or teammates, and why?

Skip Heffernan. Although he did not Coach me, he exemplified what it meant to be a badger rugby player. He took care of those that needed extra help, he encouraged us to travel abroad and he shared stories of past teams and players that inspired us and gave us a feeling of being part of a larger group.

What advice would you give to current or future rugby players at UW-Madison?

Train hard and spend time together. If you want to go pro, approach your collegiate career like a pro. Professional habits are cemented in your 20s.