ORLANDO - The UCF Athletics Association, Inc. will sign women's rowing head coach Leeanne Crain to a new three-year contract that will keep her at the helm of the program through 2009, Director of Athletics Keith R. Tribble announced on Thursday.
"I am pleased that we are able to recognize and reward Coach Crain for her leadership and continuing development of the UCF women's rowing program," said Tribble. "I am confident that we have the right leader to take the program to national prominence."
Since Crain came to Orlando in 2003, the UCF program has raised its profile on the regional and national level. During her first season, the Golden Knights earned silver medals in the varsity eight at both the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association (FIRA) and Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championships, while the lightweight eight advanced to the grand final of the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championship.
In 2004-05, UCF earned its first team ranking in the NCAA South Region poll and also took home the overall points trophies at the FIRA and SIRA Championships. Last season, the Golden Knights broke into the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Varsity Eight poll for the first time in program history and were ranked as high as 19th. The team captured fourth place at the Aramark South/Central Sprints, while the lightweight eight was fifth at the IRA Championship.
Crain's student-athletes have also excelled in the classroom with 12 Golden Knights earning CRCA National Scholar-Athlete honors. Six rowers received the award in 2006, the most of any school in the nation.
In addition to the contract, UCF officials also announced that they are continuing their efforts to enhance training facilities for the rowing program. A new dock will be in place at the Lake Pickett training center and plans are underway for the construction of a new boathouse and practice facility.