Kathy Flores has been named as the new head coach of the USA Women's National Team (WNT).

As Flores begins her term, her first event will be this weekend's All-Star Championships in Tampa, Florida. The championships will serve as the initial round of selections for the Women's National Team.

"I'm very honored and excited to have been appointed the Women's National Team Head Coach," Flores was quoted on USA Rugby's website. "Though we have a lot of work to do to invigorate our program, I am confident that with the help and support of the women's rugby community we will regain our status as a top contender in future World Cups."

Flores brings an international athlete's perspective and a winning track record as a coach to her new position. She was born in Philadelphia and played the majority of her rugby career at Florida State University, helping lead the team to four national championships. As an international player she won nine caps spanning the inaugural Can/Am match in 1987 and the 1991 and 1994 World Cups.

Flores moved to Berkeley, California in 1994 where she played until 1997. In 1998, she began to coach the team full-time. With Flores at the helm, the club has won the Club Championship for the past six years. While coaching Berkeley, she also began coaching the Pacific Coast Grizzlies in 1995 and notched five All-Star Championship victories in seven years.

In addition to being a club and territorial coach, Flores started coaching at the University of California Berkeley in 1999, where she continues to coach today. The team is now ranked 9th in the nation after just three years.

Flores is currently a USA Rugby Level III Coach, a Level I Instructor and a Level I certified Northern California referee. Professionally, Flores is a massage therapist working in a chiropractic setting, rehabilitating job-related and athletic injuries.