June 9, 2003
The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association is pleased to announce the selections for the Women’s Rowing Coaches of the Year Award for Division I, II and III. The criteria for determining the coaches selected are:
• She/he has had outstanding success during the current season
• She/he has demonstrated great team improvement from prior season
• She/he has fulfilled his/her team’s potential
• She/he has demonstrated a high level of professionalism and integrity as a coach
The 2003 winners are:
Division I:
The Division I Women’s Coach of the Year is Liz O’Leary from Harvard-Radcliffe. In her 16th year at Harvard-Radcliffe, Coach O’Leary guided the Black and White to the school’s first ever NCAA Championship. Harvard-Radcliffe won the prestigious Varsity 8 while placing 5th in the 2nd Varsity 8 and 6th in the Varsity 4. Harvard-Radcliffe was the only school to qualify all three of their boats in the grand finals. Prior to the NCAA’s, Harvard-Radcliffe won the Willing Team Point Trophy at the Eastern Sprints for the first time since 1989. The Black and White also posted their best dual racing season record since 1989, finishing 10-1 for the year. This was the sixth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance for Harvard-Radcliffe and Coach O’Leary.
Division II:
The Division II Women’s Coach of the Year is Emily Plesser from the University of California, Davis in Davis, CA. Coach Plesser led the Aggies to their second straight NCAA title in Division II this year. The Aggies posted wins in both the Varsity 8 and Varsity 4 competitions at Eagle Creek Reservoir in Indianapolis, IN. Plesser’s team also placed first in the Varsity 8 and Varsity 4 events in the 2003 Pacific Coast Rowing Championships as well as winning the Gilman/Muliken Cup at the San Diego Crew Classic. Plesser has been coaching at UC Davis since 1990. During that time, the Aggies have appeared at the NCAA Championships six times. This is Coach Plesser’s fourth National Coach of the Year honor.
Division III:
The Division III Women’s Coach of the Year is Steve Hargis from the Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. This year, Coach Hargis led his team to a first-ever appearance at the Division III NCAA National Championships. Going into the championship, the Bears’ Varsity 8 was ranked fourth. At the race, they bested that ranking one place, earning a bronze medal in the Grand Final. The Bears’ 2nd Varsity 8, undefeated in their regular season, finished 5th in the Petite Final for a combination fourth-place team finish. This was a year of firsts for the Bears as they also took home their first Florence Smith Cup (Team Championship) at the NEWMAC Championships. Immediately afterwards, Hargis was named the NEWMAC Coach of the Year. Hargis has been at the helm of the Coast Guard program for four seasons, while serving as the Director of Rowing for five. Hargis is also a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy.