Men's rowing coaching tree grows branches
May 23, 2011 | Men's Rowing
May 23, 2011
MADISON, Wis. -- Over the years, the University of Wisconsin has been the home to many rowers. And after graduation, many of these rowers go on to successful careers in fields outside of the sports world. However, there's something about Wisconsin rowing that implants itself deep within its crew members, as many UW crew alumni have tested the waters and passed on their love for the sport as coaches.
"I think it's just a phenomenal experience," Matt Imes, the Director of High Performance for US Rowing said. "Being in Madison, being a part of a program that the coaches, all the way back to Randy Jablonic, have been able to establish, I think the guys and athletes find value in it."
No matter what level, as opportunities arise for coaching, former Badgers are filling the voids. But the question of how these rowers go on to become coaches is different for each of them.
"One answer that I had when I wanted to coach was that I thought I could do it better than other coaches," Wisconsin head coach Chris Clark said.
Obviously becoming a coach isn't in the cards for all rowers. The love for the sport starts early in their careers, which are influenced greatly by their coaches.
"I hope the fact that so many of my rowers are now coaching isn't a reflection on me," Clark joked. "But I think it does indicate that they love the sport, which is good. It's not an easy sport to love."
Several Wisconsin rowers have gone on to successful careers in coaching. Greg Myhr (1992) started out coaching for Wisconsin before moving on to Georgetown and George Washington. Myhr now directs the program at Penn, who is currently ranked No. 16 in the latest USRowing poll and who the Badgers race this coming Saturday in New Jersey.
Another unique example comes from the story of Matt Smith (2000), who currently serves as an assistant with Cornell. After graduating, Smith opted to serve his country and join the Army, where he continued his rowing career in the Army's World Class Athlete Program and found his way onto the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team.
Several ties between current coaches also exist. Scott Alwin and Ed Golding each graduated in 2001 and currently work together as the lightweight varsity and novice coaches at Columbia. Similarly, 2005 graduate Peter Turney coaches at Loyola Academy along with Matt Baldino (1998), who serves as the program director and head women's coach. 2005 UW graduate Nate Kelp-Lenane coaches, ironically, at rival high school New Trier in Winnetka, Ill.
Imes' story follows a similar pattern. After graduating in 2000, Imes has held several different coaching jobs at the novice and varsity levels over the years for a number of different programs. He started coaching as an assistant at Wisconsin, and went on to coach at Gonzaga and Oregon State before taking a job with the national team.
"[Collegiate rowing] is closely intertwined with what the kids are doing on campus in their classes," Imes said. "They obviously like the sport itself, but they also find benefits in what they got out of rowing and their process of rowing and going to school at the same time."
Though his experience in the Wisconsin program is what fueled his desire to become a coach.
"Wisconsin has such a big program and there's a work ethic that's been engrained in rowing here," Imes said, "and it's not easy. When you row at Wisconsin, you're committed to doing it the right way and overcoming some of the obstacles of having a long winter and limited water time sometimes.
"You're down there with such a large group of guys that are committed, from top to bottom, to trying to improve each other every day. I think that makes a love for rowing and a love for the process and they carry that with them and want to share that experience with other people."
Clark, who took over as head coach at Wisconsin in 1996, admits that it's hard to pick out which athletes will go on to become coaches. There is no set formula that produces good rowers or coaches, but when their time begins to come to an end, those who are interested come and talk to him about it, seeking advice.
"I always recommend that if you're a good rower you should take it as far as you can," Clark said.
Clark's philosophy is one based on learning. He compels those who have the talent to try out for national and Olympic teams, not just to expand their rowing skills, but also to gain experience and understanding in the world of coaching.
"It doesn't imply that if you row 20 years internationally you're going to be the best coach," Clark admits. "But you want to take the sport as far as you can."
Once those rowers have gained enough experience, their confidence in their abilities and knowledge of the sport allows them to go to the next step, coaching. That's not to say, however, that coaching is only influenced by one's experience as a rower.
"People are generally hired because they have confidence they can do the job," Clark said. "But your confidence outweighs the reality of how prepared you are to be a head coach, and I've learned a lot on the job as I went along."
However, as Imes points out, the most rewarding part of being a coach doesn't always have to do with winning.
"Even if you don't have success," Imes states, "just the growth and development of it and being able to see the kids develop over four or five years, and seeing them when they were freshmen and what they get out of it by the time they graduate, it's a tremendous thing to be a part of."
