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 17th year at the helm of Virginia Women’s Rowing, Coach Sauer led his team to a first place team showing at the NCAA Rowing Championships this past May, winning the varsity 8, finishing fifth in the second varsity 8, and finishing second in the varsity four.   This was the second NCAA team championship for Coach Sauer and Virginia, and the second in the past three years.  This follows team titles earlier this year at the ACC Championships and the Eastern Sprints Regatta.

Assistant Coach: Dan Wolleben – Bucknell University

Completing his 5th year as an assistant of Bucknell Women’s Rowing, Coach Wolleben was given the unique experience of coaching the varsity 8 and second varsity 8 throughout the spring season after coaching the second varsity 8 for the past few springs.  In this role Wolleben lead the varsity 8 to a first place finish at the Patriot League Championships, securing Bucknell’s 7^th consecutive conference championship.  Then at the Dad Vail Regatta Wolleben lead the second varsity 8 to a silver medal performance, and lead the Bucknell varsity 8 into the grand final for the first time in school history, ultimately winning the silver medal, and securing Bucknell’s first ever women’s team championship at the Dad Vail.

Division II

Head Coach:  Robin Meiggs – Humboldt State University

Completing her 18th year at the helm of Humboldt State Women’s Crew, Coach Meiggs led the Lumberjacks their first ever team championship at the NCAA Rowing Championships this past May, winning both the varsity 8 and varsity 4 events at the championship.

Division III

Head Coach:  Sandra Chu – William Smith College

Completing her 10th year at the helm of William Smith College Rowing, Coach Chu led the Herons to a fourth place finish at the NCAA Rowing Championships this past May, finishing third in the varsity 8 and fifth in the second varsity 8.

Lightweight

Head Coach:  Al Acosta – Stanford University

Completing his 10th year at the helm of the Lightweight Women’s team at Stanford, Coach Acosta led his team to their third consecutive IRA National title in the lightweight 8 in Camden, NJ earlier this June.