|
| ||||||
 | ||||||
About Us |
The Team
| Open Recruiting |
|---|
|
• See the Frequently Asked Questions about joining the rowing team. • Fill out our recruiting form for more information on joining the team. |
Since 1984 the Sacramento State Men's Rowing team has competed against universities from all over the country. As part of the Western Intercolliegate Rowing Association, we have won multiple conference championships in the Varsity 8. We have also had championship boats in several other events during our history. We are a club sport at Sacramento State which means that the majority of our funding comes from donations and fundraising during the year. The members of this team throughout our history pride themselves on hard work, dedication, and commitment to a common goal.
The team is comprised of male athletes and male or female coxswains. Our team competes against school such as Stanford, Santa Clara, UC Berkeley, and all other West Coast institutions with rowing programs. No experience is necessary to join.
Our Facilities and Lake Natoma
The Sacramento State Aquatic Center is one of the best rowing facilities in the country because it has the combination of multi-million dollar facilities, fantastic year round weather, and the long, protected waters of Lake Natoma. The facilities include rowing specific training equipment, weight room, locker room and showers.
Lake Natoma is really the star attraction for our facility. The entire lake is surrounded by state park property which keeps the rest of the world from infringing on its waters. It is because of Lake Natoma that Sacramento State hosts most of the major rowing races in the Western US, and why we have hosted the NCAA national championship more than any other facility.
For more information see the Sacramento State Aquatic Center website.
Coaching Staff
Tom McCoin - Head Coach
Coach McCoin grew up in Orangevale and frequently visited Lake Natoma fishing, going off rope swings, swimming, and exploring. In high school he was nominated to the Sacramento Athletic Hall of Fame for water Polo. He joined the Sacramento State Men's rowing team in 1984 (the second season of rowing for Sac State). The 1984 team comprised also of Dave Hyashi who later started the Capital Crew Junior rowing team. In 1986 Coach McCoin transferred to Long Beach State and rowed under three-time Olympian, John Van Blom. He was in the Varsity -eight that beat Cambridge University in 1987. In 1987 he also received the team's perpetual "Black Oar" Award for "silent leadership". 1988 he won the Long Beach qualifier for the CRASH-B Sprint World Indoor Rowing Championships, and was nominated team captain.
Coach McCoin has been married to his wife Michaela for twenty years and they have four children. He has a BA in Psychology and a Master in Physical Therapy. He currently is an adjunct instructor at Sacramento City College and works at Beretta PT Sports Medicine Center. (1998-2004 rowing seasons assisted the Sac State Men and Capital Crew injured athletes as team physical therapist.) He is a professional ski instructor specializing in adaptive alpine skiing. He has worked in ski resorts throughout the west including Big Bear Resort, Snowqualmie Pass, Alpine Meadows, and Sun Valley.
The majority of Coach McCoin's past coaching has been in water polo. In 1992 and 1993 he coached the UPAC US Water Polo team in Tacoma, WA to successive State championships. He attributes much of his love for health and fitness to his rowing experiences and has continued competing in various sporting venues as a result: 1998 competed Outrigger Canoe World Championships, 1999 competed Kayak Water Polo National Championships, 2000 finished Leadville 100 Mtn bike race, 2001 finished Wasatch Front 100 mile trail run, 2003 finished Western States 100 mile trail run, 2004 finished Vineman Ironman distance triathlon, 2004 finished Furnace Creek 508-mile road bike race, 2007 finished Coeur de Alene Ironman Triathlon, 2008-2009 finished Tahoe-Sierra 100-mile mtn bike race.
Anthony Sacco - Alumni President
Anthony Sacco is an alumnus of Sacramento State, and this rowing program. Anthony aquired several medals during his time with the team including the 1998 Varsity Men's 4 that went undefeated in our conference, winning gold in both the California State Championships, and WIRA. Anthony is also a former coach of our Novice Men's Squad. Anthony now runs his own business but still finds time to assist the team any way he can. He has also started an Alumni Scholarship Fund for the athletes on the Men's Rowing Team, a first in the 20 year history of the program.
Sacramento State Aquatic Center Staff
We are also supported by the team of rowing coaches and administrators at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center. Their support adds to our commitment in furthing the success of this program.
The University
Located just five miles from the State Capitol in a metropolitan area of more than 2 million residents, Sacramento State is the flagship university in one of the fastest growing regions in the nation.
On the banks of the historic American River, the 300-acre campus is sheltered by more than 3,000 trees and dotted with fountains and gardens. Miles of trails stretch across its river parkway, connecting the university to recreation areas such as Old Sacramento, Folsom Lake and the Sacramento State Aquatic Center.
Sacramento State offers 60 undergraduate and 40 graduate degrees to its nearly 28,000 dedicated students (11,000 men and 17,000 women). Our computer science program was one of the first accredited in 1986 and our criminal justice program is one of the largest in the United States. The student to faculty ratio is 21 to 1 and 70 percent of classes have fewer than 30 students.
For more information see the Sacramento State University website.
The Region
Sacramento State students lead active lives in and out of the classroom. Many events are offered on campus including concerts and sports, while the surrounding region has a wide range of activities. The city is rich in California history, known for its relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Its mild climate, rivers and nearby recreation areas make it popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Residents enjoy all the benefits of an urban California lifestyle – art galleries, museums, theater, great restaurants and shopping – yet Sacramento is one of the most affordable big cities in California. Sacramento is also within easy driving distance of San Francisco, the Napa and Sonoma valleys, the historic gold country and the Tahoe region’s ski slopes. The area is also home to two professional basketball teams, the NBA’s Kings and the WNBA’s Monarchs, as well as AAA baseball’s Rivercats.
The Sport Of Rowing
Collegiate rowing is a team sport with each boat having eight rowers and a coxswain that steers and manages the boat. Rowing shells (boats) are about 63 feet long, weigh 200 lbs, and are made of carbon fiber allowing them to carry over 2000 pounds of athlete on the water. The boats which cost between 25 and 30 thousand dollars are capable of reaching 15 mph and can easily tow a water skier (see Mythbusters).
Rowing is a leverage sport that favors tall athletes and since weight determines the drag on the boat, the best rowers tend to look like basketball players. Also, because weight is important in this sport the coxswains that manage and steer the boats ideally weigh less than 125 pounds. The coxswain for each boat is responsible for the safety of the entire boat and is the only person who can see where the boat is going. A male or female athlete on a Men’s Rowing Team can perform this daunting task.
For more information on the sport of rowing see USRowing.com and row2k.com.