McKinney has experience in coaching and playing the sport. He played for Belmont Abbey College in the early 90s earning team captain honors before joining the Charlotte Rugby Club where he was a member of the team from 1993-2008. While with the Charlotte Rugby Club, McKinney won five North Carolina State Championships and three Virginia State Champions.
McKinney was the head coach of the Charlotte Tigers from 2015-2017, finishing state runner-up in 2015. Additionally, they were ranked as high as No. 17 in the nation in 2017. In 2014, he served as the head backs coach and head tactical coach at the Citadel.
Prior to coaching the Tigers, McKinney was the head coach at Myers Park High School from 2006-2012, earning regional championship honors in 2012 after the team ranked No. 11 in Rugby Magazine. McKinney also coached at various levels with the North Carolina All-Stars.
“This will be the first varsity rugby team in the state of North Carolina, and being a part of the start is a huge honor,” said McKinney. “I’ve been coaching locally for nine years and this addition at Queens is big for the sport, the city of Charlotte, and the state. I am really excited to be a part of running what will be a great program.”
McKinney holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Belmont Abbey, and a MBA from the University of Michigan.