A distinguished center for Des Moines, Iowa, who served as the initial captain of the Western territory and also a union coach and official, Schram first appeared on the international stage in 1989, taking the United States 'A' team to New Zealand. He formally took up the role of National Team Manager in 1990, as the United States hosted Argentina in Santa Barbara, California. By the time of his final assignment, September's Pan American Championship tournament in Ontario, Canada, Schram had outlasted possibly all of his international counterparts.
Schram's storied career included major tours to Australia and Ireland as well as the 1991 World Cup. He managed US teams that faced six of the eight major International Rugby Board countries: England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Australia, and New Zealand. Often a player favorite, he worked with hundreds and hundreds of US national teamers in inimitable style.
In addition to heavy traveling with the National Team, Schram's responsibilities featured routine attendance of major domestic competitions and numerous administrative chores, including the selections process. He also played an active role in the US National 7s Team program, and in fact managed the squad on its 1996 visit to the Hong Kong 7s.
Schram, a graduate of Iowa State and Harvard Business School, makes his living as Vice President in charge of marketing for Association Group Insurance Administrators, a Santa Barbara-based firm.
In announcing his retirement, Schram said it had always been his goal to "bring consistency and continuity to the team."
Unfortunately, as the US National Team's schedule has leapt from two or three to ten-plus games per year, "the increased schedule, combined with expanded business opportunities and commitments, means that it's time for someone else to assume the responsibility. The number of games all but preclude a volunteer, someone who spends time in the business world.
"I'll miss the relationships with the players and the excitement of the test-match arena on game day," he commented. "But I hope to find some role in USA Rugby that makes sense and allows me to be involved and make a contribution."
"Ed Schram was good at his job, and I sincerely enjoyed working him," General Manager and Head Coach Jack Clark commented. "All of us in the Eagle program, both past and present, are appreciative of the sacrifices he's made. Certainly the demands of the new era make his retirement understandable."
Alluding to a favored metaphor that compares US progress toward becoming a powerful rugby team to a relay race, Clark affirmed that "Schrammy ran a long, hard leg."
In recognition of his outstanding service, the US National Team intends to honor Schram at an appropriate public event, to be announced at a later date.