"More than an academy. A philosophy"

SHPA is more than an athletic program — it’s a philosophy of excellence that shapes athletes for success in every sport and offers a clear pathway to professional Rugby and American Football.

Try-fecta Approach

Try-fecta approach is SHPA’s holistic development strategy designed to build a complete athlete. It focuses on nurturing an athlete’s physical abilities through elite training, sharpening their mental focus, and forging their character within a supportive community.

Physical Fitness

SHPA’s physical training is rooted in science-based strength, conditioning, and nutrition. Every athlete is guided to build endurance, agility, and power, while also learning techniques to prevent injury and sustain long-term performance.
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Mental Health

We cultivate mental toughness by instilling focus, discipline, and professionalism. Athletes learn how to thrive under pressure, adapt to challenges, and develop the high-performance mindset needed to excel at elite levels.
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Emotional Well-being

At SHPA, growth isn’t just physical, it’s personal. In a professional, supportive environment, athletes are challenged to lead, believe in themselves, and rise to every occasion. We build mental toughness and strength that define champions, on the field and beyond.

PACK Mentality

The PACK mentality is the code of conduct for all SHPA members, defining the four pillars of character and performance we aim to build in every athlete. This acronym stands for the core tenets we instill in our members: Professionalism, Athleticism, Character, and Knowledge.

Professionalism

Every member is expected to uphold integrity and accountability both on and off the field.
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Athleticism

Through advanced training and relentless effort, they improve overall speed, increase in strength, and refine their skills.
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Character

SHPA emphasizes honesty, integrity, and sportsmanship - values necessary to be trusted role models in their communities.

Knowledge

SHPA athletes gain a deep knowledge of rugby’s strategies, laws, and tactical play.
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Our Leadership

Scott Mead

Co-Founder & CEO

Scott Mead is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Southwest High-Performance Academy (SHPA), where he leads the strategic vision to create a new standard for athlete development in the American Southwest. He is driven by a core belief that the discipline and mindset required for elite sport are the most effective tools for forging character, resilience, and leadership in young people.
Scott’s vision for SHPA is forged from a unique journey through the highest levels of American sport. His foundation was built at the United States Air Force Academy, where he played Division I football and was introduced to a national championship-winning rugby program. This experience launched a decorated club rugby career spanning three decades. As a leader at the Red Mountain Rugby Club, he was instrumental in transforming the startup team from a winless club into a USA Rugby National Champion in 2008. His elite athletic career culminated in his selection to the USA Eagles national team, a testament to his skill, perseverance, and deep understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level.
The philosophy that underpins SHPA’s curriculum is born from Scott’s personal relationships within the global rugby community. During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, he played for the Honolulu Harlequins alongside Hilton Mexted, son of the founder of the world-renowned International Rugby Academy of New Zealand (IRANZ). Upon returning to the mainland in 2024, Scott reconnected with Hilton to bring that elite experience to SHPA. This led directly to the academy’s foundational partnership with IRANZ and its current director, Wayne Taylor, with whom Scott has been building a long-term relationship ever since.
As a certified coach and referee, Scott combines this world-class partnership with decades of hands-on experience. For Scott, SHPA is more than a training program—it is an ecosystem designed to empower young athletes to become sovereign individuals. His vision is to provide a pathway where every member is equipped with the physical skills, mental fortitude, and personal character to win on the field and succeed as leaders in their communities and throughout their lives.

“Doubt exists only in the absence of Vision.”

Adolfo Sanchez

Co-Founder & Head Development Coach

Adolfo “Dolf” Sanchez – Rugby Coach, Community Leader, and Business Professional
Adolfo “Dolf” Sanchez is a first-generation American, lifelong athlete, and dedicated rugby coach whose leadership has left a lasting impact on the rugby community across Arizona, New Mexico, and the greater Southwest. Growing up in El Paso, Texas, Dolf was a standout football and track athlete before discovering rugby after moving to Arizona—a sport that became his lifelong passion and source of community, family, and purpose.

Over the past two decades, Dolf has been a catalyst for rugby growth, developing youth programs, organizing early touch rugby tournaments for boys and girls, and mentoring countless players. His coaching track record includes guiding multiple clubs to the USA Rugby National Final Four: Scottsdale Blues Rugby Club (2025 National Finalist), Red Mountain Rugby Club (2022 DII Final Four), and Tucson Magpies Rugby Club (2023 DIII Final Four). Beyond team success, he has proudly coached and mentored players from Arizona who went on to represent the USA Rugby Eagles, while inspiring many more to find confidence, discipline, and family through rugby.

Professionally, Dolf is an accomplished real estate acquisitions manager and business leader with expertise in project management, negotiations, and community development. He has leveraged these professional skills to strengthen rugby communities, including spearheading the Estevan Park Rugby Pitch Renovation Project in Tucson in collaboration with the City of Tucson, Native-American youth artists, and local organizations.
As a coach, player, and community leader, Dolf has built deep connections throughout the Southwest rugby community, from New Mexico—where he studied at New Mexico State University and continues to do business—to Arizona, where he has spent decades building clubs, mentoring players, and creating opportunities for the next generation.

Above all, Dolf is committed to using rugby as a tool for transformation—building pathways for young athletes, empowering underserved communities, and fostering the growth of the sport he has proudly played, coached, and championed for more than 25 years.

The Backbone of Our Program.

At SHPA, we are proud to partner exclusively with the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand (IRANZ).

Wayne Taylor – IRANZ Expert

Wayne Taylor brings decades of expertise from the world’s most successful rugby development systems. His work ensures our athletes don’t just become stronger players, but well-rounded individuals prepared for challenges on and off the field.

“Our vision with SHPA is not simply to produce great athletes, but to shape sovereign individuals who carry leadership, resilience, and professionalism into every arena of life.”

– Wayne Taylor, IRANZ