ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) has named Emily Plesser of the University of California-Davis as the 2002 Division II National Coach of the Year and Karen Klinger of Smith College the Division III National Coach of the Year.
Plesser led the Aggies to the inaugural NCAA Division II Women's Rowing Championship, the school's first NCAA team title in any sport since 1998. The team won the title after claiming individual event championships in both the first varsity eight and second varsity eight races over top-ranked Western Washington. Plesser, who has guided the rowing program at UC Davis since 1990, was the Division II/III CRCA Co-National Coach of the Year in 1999 and National Coach of the Year in 2000.
Klinger guided the Pioneers to the 2002 NCAA Division III Women's Rowing Championships, their second appearance at the national championships. The team received an automatic bid by winning the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) rowing title. She also led the team to third place in the women's point trophy competition at the Avaya Communication Collegiate Championship. Klinger, a 1987 graduate of Smith College, is in her sixth year at the helm of the Pioneer rowing program.
The National Coach of the Year award, selected by the membership of the CRCA, is intended to recognize a coach who has experienced outstanding success during the season, demonstrated great team improvement from the prior season, fulfilled their team's potential and/or demonstrated a high level of professionalism and integrity as a coach. The coach must also be a current member of the CRCA.