NOLA GOLD Head Coach Danny Lee on the season ahead
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An exclusive interview with Head Coach Danny Lee
NOLA GOLD Rugby’s 2025 season is shaping up to be an exciting one under the leadership of newly appointed Head Coach Danny Lee. With an extensive professional playing career and a successful coaching tenure at San Diego Legion, Lee brings a wealth of experience and fresh energy to the squad. In this exclusive GOLD Talks interview, Coach Lee shares insights into his coaching philosophy, preseason preparation, team goals, and his impressions of New Orleans.
Read on to get an inside look at the man leading NOLA GOLD into the future.
Q: You had a professional playing career of 17 years. How does that help you better understand the mentality of your players?
Danny Lee: I think there’s an advantage of “been there, done that.” You know how a player feels when he’s under pressure, the amount of work that goes into it fitness-wise, and all the homework you have to do to be able to play. Not to say that you have to be a player to be a coach because there are a lot of good coaches out there who possibly haven’t played or haven’t played at the top level. In my situation, I always felt like this was a natural progression for me. The way I thought about the game and towards the end of my career, I thought it was my pathway in a job sense. I felt it pretty quickly. It was seamless, really, going from playing to coaching.
Q: As the new head coach, what has this preseason looked like so far?
Danny Lee: There’s a lot going on. A lot of new faces and a new organization, so I’ve tried to understand what happened here in the past, and I’m trying to stamp my mark on what’s going to happen in the future. At the same time, understand our players and learn more about them as people. I think it’s really important for the group and the environment that the player feels loved. That’s still taking time, I can’t say I know everyone at the moment, but I’m getting better. Understanding how these guys work and what makes them work hard is important. In terms of the rugby side of things, we want to work really hard in this preseason window. Make it as tough as possible, get a lot of fitness work in, and get a lot of the big rocks for our game plans and how we want to play the game. I feel we’ve done that over the last five weeks.
Q: You previously coached for San Diego Legion. What are the main differences you’re already noticing here in New Orleans?
Danny Lee: The weather is the polar opposite of San Diego. There are no beaches here. You have the bayou. We can’t work out in the swamp because of the gators. The city is quite different, the people and the culture have their own tight-knit community. San Diego is more spread out, and everybody does their own thing. There are pros and cons. They’re both great places, but now we’re here. There’s definitely more of a city buy-in and cultural aspect. Food is also big here, as we know. I’ve probably already put on some pounds.
Q: What strategies are you implementing to replicate or surpass your past playoff success?
Danny Lee: It would be nice to have the same success, if not better. My plan is to go one step further and win this competition just like every other team, coach, and player I’ve come up against. I think it’s gonna take a little bit of time early to find our feet with new players and new coaches. I’m aspirational. I want us to work really hard to win games and put ourselves in a good position around the playoffs. If we’re in the playoffs at home, it’s an advantage. The goal is to move up the table as much as possible and secure home advantage for ourselves, our fans, and the city. Climb through the standings and finish at the top, so we can take advantage of those benefits. From there, we hope to build momentum for the finals and position ourselves well. It’s a new team for me, a new city, and a new culture but the same goals and aspirations to win this competition.
Q: What are your core values as a coach?
Danny Lee: Family first. Create an environment and a culture that is of enjoyment and hard work. If you ask these guys if they enjoy it, sometimes they should say no or yes. There has to be balance. The balance between enjoying the game and improving. It’s my job to make it to where they get everything. They’re learning, enjoying each other, bonding, and mixing with each other and their families. Generally, if guys are enjoying what they’re doing, then they’re going to get better at it, and they’re going to perform, which is what we need on the weekends. So hard work, commitment, enjoyment, and getting the families involved.
Rapid fire questions
How was your New Orleans snow day?
It was very cool!
What New Orleans restaurants have you tried?
Not too many. Been to a couple of local restaurants, but I need to get out to more.
Are you planning on going to any Mardi Gras parades?
Yes! I’m trying to find a time and decide which ones, but it’s definitely on the to-do list. The culture and what goes on at this time of year is something we’ve got to get amongst.
What’s one thing you want NOLA GOLD fans to know about you?
I’m more easygoing than it looks or that I portray. My wife tells me all the time that I look grumpy. My close friends from home know that I love to joke around. I may look angry or uptight, but that’s part of the job. There are times when I like to have a laugh and some banter with the boys.
Coach Danny Lee is bringing a fresh mindset and a driven mentality to NOLA GOLD, with a strong focus on team culture, hard work, and ambition. With a new squad, a passionate city behind them, and a clear vision for success, the 2025 season is set to be an exciting journey for both the team and its fans.
