Elaine Vassie

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Elaine Vassie

| image =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1981|10|10}}

| birth_place = Paisley, Scotland

| coachteams1 = Manchester Rugby Club

| coachteams2 = DAK Mantova

| coachteams3 = Griffins Rugby

| coachteams4 = {{Nwrut|Scotland}} Women 7's

| coachteams5 = Dallas Harlequins

| coachteams6 = Dallas Jackals

| coachteams7 = Colgate University

| coachyears1 = 2009–2012

| coachyears2 = 2012

| coachyears3 = 2013–2015

| coachyears4 = 2016

| coachyears5 = 2018-2020

| coachyears6 = 2019-2022

| coachyears7 = 2024 - present

| occupation = Director of Rugby / Coach / General Manager

}}

Elaine Vassie (born 10 October 1981 in Paisley, Scotland) is a professional rugby union coach. She is the assistant general manager and attack coach of Major League Rugby side Dallas Jackals.

Vassie caught the headlines in 2009, taking over then National League 1 side Manchester Rugby Club in a role that had been labelled "arguably the hardest job in rugby".{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/manchester/manchester-rely-on-womans-touch-to-stem-tide-of-crushing-defeats-dqzszxfrvdv|title = Manchester rely on woman's touch to stem tide of crushing defeats|last1 = Kidd|first1 = Patrick}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/201102244523/news/latest-news/top-v-bottom-as-fylde-at-manchester-on-saturday.html |title=Fylde line-up at Manchester |access-date=2014-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512231611/http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/201102244523/news/latest-news/top-v-bottom-as-fylde-at-manchester-on-saturday.html |archive-date=2014-05-12 |url-status=dead }} Aged just 28, no other female had or has since held such a position at National League level.{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/rugby/a-little-bit-of-history-is-on-the-way.22070823 |title=A Little bit of history is on the way |work=The Herald |date=5 September 2013 |accessdate=3 February 2018}} Following her 3-year spell at Manchester Rugby Club, Vassie linked up with Italian side, DAK Mantova combining a coaching and club development position.{{Cite web|url=https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://gazzettadimantova.gelocal.it/sport/2012/11/29/news/dall-inghilterra-anche-una-donna-per-far-volare-in-alto-il-mantova-1.6115306&prev=/search%3Fq%3Delaine%2Bvassie%2Bmantova%26rlz%3D1C1CHIK_enGB529GB530%26es_sm%3D122|title = Google Translate}} In October 2013, it was announced that she was to become Director of Rugby of American side Griffins Rugby, the first person in such a role in the club's history.{{Cite web |url=http://www.griffinsrugby.com/new-director-of-rugby-for-griffins/ |title=New Director of Rugby - Griffins Rugby |access-date=2014-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512223023/http://www.griffinsrugby.com/new-director-of-rugby-for-griffins/ |archive-date=2014-05-12 |url-status=dead }}

In 2016, Vassie was announced as coach of {{Nwrut|Scotland}} Women's 7's team ahead of their upcoming European Championships.{{Cite web|url=http://scottishrugby.org/news/16/04/13/sevens-shiel-and-vassie|title = Sevens up for Shiel and Vassie}} The squad secured Bronze medal position in the European Trophy Competition {{Cite web|url=https://scottishrugby.org/bronze-for-scotland-women-7s-in-rugby-europe-trophy|title =Bronze for Scotland Women In Rugby Europe Trophy|date =11 July 2016}}

Returning to the U.S. in 2018, she was appointed as Division 1 side Dallas Harlequins' new director of rugby {{Cite web|url=https://djcoilrugby.com/2018/08/17/dallas-harlequins-elaine-vassie/|title = Dallas Harlequins Name Elaine Vassie Director of Rugby|date = 17 August 2018}} and Men's Head Coach.

Subsequently, in June 2020 Vassie was announced as attack coach and assistant general manager for the new Major League Rugby franchise Dallas Jackals, the first female AGM appointment in the league's history.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasjackals.com/news/elaine-vassie-named-first-female-assistant-gm-mlr-history/|title=Elaine Vassie Named First Female Assistant GM in MLR History}} Elaine was subsequently promoted to General Manager, the first female GM in MLR history. {{Cite web|url=https://djcoilrugby.com/2021/08/27/dallas-jackals-name-elaine-vassie-general-manager/|title=Dallas Jackals Name Elaine Vassie}}

A change in ownership saw Vassie, fellow Coach Aaron Jarvis, Analyst Darren Lewis, and President Scott Sonju depart in 2022. {{Cite web|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2022/06/22/dallas-jackals-part-ways-with-gm-elaine-vassie|title=Dallas Jackals Part Ways With GM Elaine Vassie|date=23 June 2022 }}

Vassie was announced as Director of Rugby/Head Coach at Colgate University in summer 2024. {{Cite web|url=https://thecolgatemaroonnews.com/54015/uncategorized/colgate-rugby-has-a-new-leader-at-the-helm|title=colgate Rugby has a new leader at the helm}}