Olympian Bryan Volpenhein has been hired as the San Diego Rowing Club Junior Team Men's Varsity Coach, announced SDRC Head Coach Patrick Kington.
Bryan arrives at SDRC after serving as the US National Team men's coach for six years. During his tenure with the National Team, Bryan was responsible for selecting and coaching the priority boats for USRowing from 2012-2016, including the Rio Olympics, where he coached the men's four to bronze and silver medals at the World Championships in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Bryan and his family have recently made San Diego their home. His wife, Sarah Trowbridge, is the head coach for women's rowing at the University of San Diego and their son, Otto, will turn two in July.
"We are incredibly excited to have Bryan join SDRC," said Kington. "Bryan is an exceptionally talented coach and athlete and brings to SDRC a pedigree that is unparalleled in Juniors rowing. We are looking forward to the standard of excellence he will bring to the program, and I look forward to working together towards our goal of developing SDRC's athletes into champions on and off the water."
"I'm excited and humbled for this new opportunity with the San Diego Juniors. I'm looking forward to getting started and sharing my experiences and knowledge with the next generation of rowers, and preparing them for the next chapters in their rowing careers and life," said Volpenhein. "Rowing has given me so much over my career and I hope to give back, lead this team, and join the wonderful rowing community at SDRC!"
Bryan graduated from Ohio State in 2002 and competed in the 2000, 2004, and 2008 Olympics winning a gold medal in the 2004 men's eight and a bronze medal in the 2008 men's eight. He was named US National Team men's coach in 2012 after coaching the men's pair and lightweight 4- at the 2012 Olympics. Bryan worked to develop, select, and prepare his teams for top level international competition. Bryan took a break from rowing in 2005 to attend the culinary arts school at The Art Institute of Seattle.