The euphoria and pride felt by Niskayuna Rowing Club boys' coach Mike Gilbert Saturday after leading athletes he coached to a national championship proved to be short-lived.

Monday, Niskayuna Rowing program director Molly Grygiel informed Gilbert he longer was the coach of the boys' program.

"I got a text message (Monday) morning to turn in my keys," Gilbert said.

Tuesday, Gilbert held his final practice with the team.

"I said my goodbyes and they wanted to thank me for making them better rowers and better men," Gilbert said. "I told them, 'I will see you soon.' "

When contacted by the Times Union Tuesday, Grygiel declined comment.

Gilbert, who has been the coach for four years, was stunned by the move.

Saturday at the Scholastic Rowing Association of America Championships in Cherry Hill, N.J., the Niskayuna boys' junior quad team of Noah Chaskin, Liam McGrinder, Austin Dobson and Jack Lampman captured the national title with a time of 4 minutes, 48.081 seconds.

Adam Chaskin, the father of Noah and a former men's assistant basketball coach at Siena College, said, "I am thankful for the time Michael Gilbert put in with my son to help him develop into the world-class rower that he is. Not only did he win two of the biggest regattas in the country, he was invited this weekend to train with the national team this summer."

Unlike other high school sports, rowing is a varsity sport in spring and a club sport the rest of the year. Like other high school coaches, rowing coaches are approved on a yearly basis by the Niskayuna school board. Gilbert said the school board accepts the recommendations made by the Niskayuna Rowing Club's board of directors.

When pressed on why he was let go, Gilbert said Grygiel was acting on the wishes of the Niskayuna Rowing board of directors.

"There was no indication anything was awry," Gilbert said.

Gilbert's wife, Catherine, has also coached with the program, but took a break as the Gilberts have a three-month-old child.

Mike Gilbert said he previously informed Grygiel of his intention to take the summer off.

"I wanted to take a break for the summer and recharge the batteries. The response was turn in your keys and your credit card," Gilbert said. "At first, I thought she just wanted me to turn in my keys for the summer.

"I am sure it gave (the board of directors) a stepping-off point to spin it that, 'Mike wanted time off.' I believe it is a handful of disgruntled parents of freshmen, that would be my guess, who are steering the ship. The boys are not happy, as you can imagine. This is not the end of it, as you can imagine. They have a voice and will use it."

Gilbert said he did not see the move coming at all.

"There is a natural amount of struggle and friction involved with winning a national title. If it was easy, they would give them out to everybody," Gilbert said. "Some parents wondered why certain kids were in certain boats. That is the job of the coaches to do, and the job of the parents and kids to trust that the right thing is being done.

"It would be nice to say there is some wonderful formula for who goes in each boat. It is science, it is art, it is subjective at times and it is quantifiable at times."

jallen@timesunion.com • 518-454-5062 • @TUSidelines