The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association is pleased to announce the winners of its National Coach of the Year Awards. These awards are voted on by the membership of the CRCA and are intended to recognize head coaches whose teams have had outstanding success throughout the current season and who have demonstrated a high level of professionalism and integrity as a coach. The DI assistant coach of the year is intended to recognize an assistant coach who has had a significant impact on the performance of his/her team, has shown outstanding commitment to his/her coach and has demonstrated a high level of professionalism and integrity as a coach. Below are the names of the winners of the CRCA National Coach of the Year awards.

Division I

Head Coach: Kevin Sauer – University of Virginia
Completing his 15th year at the helm of Virginia Women’s Rowing, Coach Sauer led his team to a first time, first place team showing at the NCAA Rowing Championships in Sacramento, CA this past May. This follows team titles earlier this year at the ACC Championships and the South/Central Sprints.

Assistant Coach: Steve Pritzker – University of Virginia
Completing his 6th year as an assistant of Virginia Women’s Rowing, Coach Pritzker helped lead his team to a 2010 NCAA Team Championship in Sacramento, CA his past May. He was responsible for coaching the varsity 4 who won at NCAA’s. He also led the varsity 4 to victories at the ACC Championships and the South Central Sprints earlier in 2010.

Division II

Head Coach: Adrian Spracklen – Mercyhurst
Completing his 18th year at the helm of Mercyhurst Women’s Crew, Coach Spracklen led his Varsity 8+ to a first time, first place finish at the NCAA Rowing Championship in Sacramento, CA this past May.

Division III

Head Coach: Justin Moore – Williams
Completing his 11th year at the helm of the Women’s team at Williams, Coach Moore led his team to a fifth consecutive first place team finish – placing first and third in the Grand Final, and a Varsity 8+ National Championship at the NCAA Rowing Championship in Sacramento, CA this past May.

Lightweight

Head Coach: Al Acosta – Stanford University
Completing his 8th year at the helm of the Lightweight Women’s team at Stanford, Coach Acosta led his team to its first-ever IRA National Title in the lightweight 8 with a nearly four-second victory in the Grand Final in Camden, NJ earlier this June. Stanford’s previous best finish at the IRA was third in the lightweight 8.