row2k news

USRowing Hires U.S. Men's National Team Coaches McGee and Volpenhein

Coach Volpenhein

PRINCETON, N.J. - USRowing has hired Lucas McGee and Bryan Volpenhein as men's coaches for the United States National Team, the organization announced on Tuesday. Both men will be responsible for the men's high performance sweep squad and will work in concert to develop, select and prepare the team for international competition.

Volpenhein, a three-time Olympian and 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the men's eight, led the lightweight men's four to Olympic qualification and an eighth-place overall finish at the 2012 Olympic Games. He also coached the U.S. men's pair that finished eighth in London this summer. In addition to his current role as Director of the Oklahoma City High Performance Center, he will coach the men's four and the lightweight men's four at the USRowing Training Center - Oklahoma City.

"I'm honored to have this opportunity and I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead," said Volpenhein. "I have tremendous respect for Luke and I'm excited to work with him to build a strong, competitive team. With Curtis' leadership and vision, I think this new structure is a step in the right direction. It will engage more of the rowing community and provide multiple avenues for athletes to succeed. I can't wait to get started."

McGee will coach the U.S. men's eight at the USRowing Training Center - Princeton and serve as the U.S. men's under 23 coordinator. A 2001 Brown University and 2002 Oxford University graduate, McGee medaled with U.S. National Team crews on the junior, under 23 and senior team levels. He won a gold medal at the 2003 World Rowing Championships in Milan in the men's four with coxswain. McGee joined the coaching staff at Brown in 2004 and then took over as freshmen coach at the University of Washington in 2007.

In five years at Washington, McGee achieved a tremendous level of success with the freshmen program including gold medals in 2009, 2010 and 2012 and five consecutive team national championships. Most recently, McGee coached the U.S. under 23 men's eight to a gold medal at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Trakai, Lithuania.

"I am excited to join USRowing and work in tandem with Bryan as we build from the successes in London and look towards Rio 2016," said McGee. "Curtis has put together a great staff, and I am grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to coach the USA men's eight and coordinate the USA under 23 team. I look forward to working with our country's world-class athletes as well as the college and club coaches who develop the men capable of winning medals at the highest level."

"I am very excited about the opportunity to attract these two accomplished young coaches. They will be the core of a new generation of elite coaches being developed for the coming years," said USRowing High Performance Director Curtis Jordan. "I want to acknowledge the support from the Princeton and Oklahoma City communities. Their continued effort and involvement have made the hiring of these two top coaches possible. Princeton and Oklahoma City are part of a larger network of local rowing communities that support our clubs, coaches and athletes. This network plays a vital role in our national team's success."