NEWS
Former New Mexico Tech coach faces sexual contact charge involving teen
17-year-old student accused ex-rugby coach of inappropriate contact during a team bonding night
Published
A former New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology rugby coach was arrested Wednesday and accused of inappropriate conduct with a 17-year-old player.
Milaan Van Wyk, 30, is charged with one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor. He was released on his own recognizance later Wednesday.
鈥淭he individual currently holds no official role with the NMT rugby teams,鈥� said Katie Ismael, spokesperson for NMT.
鈥淗is coaching duties concluded naturally at the end of our recent rugby season,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hile his scheduled coaching term had already ended, once we were made aware of the allegations, we affirmed that he would have no continued participation with our teams.鈥�
New Mexico State Police were notified of the alleged abuse March 26, after a 17-year-old New Mexico Tech student reported her rugby coach sexually assaulted her in May 2025, according to a criminal complaint filed in Socorro Magistrate Court.
Officers spoke with the teen, who said she and her teammates held weekly team-bonding dinners at Van Wyk鈥檚 house.
The teen said in May 2025, she was with her teammates at Van Wyk鈥檚 house, but her teammates left, leaving her and Van Wyk alone together, the complaint states.
She told officers she fell asleep on the couch while watching a movie, and shortly after, Van Wyk picked her up and took her to his bedroom, according to the complaint.
The teen told police she woke up when she felt Van Wyk touching her, the complaint states.
鈥�(The teen) detailed a series of non-consensual contacts,鈥� according to the complaint.
She told officers that Van Wyk continued to touch her inappropriately until she left the house around 7 a.m., the complaint states.
Police on Monday attempted to interview Van Wyk, who declined.
A warrant for his arrest was issued the next day, according to the complaint.
Van Wyk was previously charged with one count of misdemeanor criminal sexual contact in March 2024 after a woman told NMT campus police he cornered her in a dorm hallway and touched her chest, according to a criminal complaint filed in Socorro Magistrate Court.
The case was dismissed after the woman did not appear at a court hearing.
In 2021, Van Wyk was the recipient of NMT鈥檚 first athletic scholarship: the NMT Coach's Choice Scholarship. He attended New Mexico Highlands in 2020 and transferred to NMT the following year and began coaching the women鈥檚 rugby team after his athletic career in men鈥檚 rugby ended.
Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.
