Purdue Crew

Past Coaches

Purdue Crew Women's Team

Purdue Crew Women's Team was established in 1979. An article written in Purdue's Exponent titled Women shove off on new challenge describes the beginning of the Women's program.

"When they first showed up we thought they were there to be coxswains, but they wanted to row." That was the comment made by Kevin Sauer, president of the Purdue Crew Club, when asked about the reaction when four women showed up at the crew club callout last fall. "They sort of laughed at us at first," said Jan Pahl, one of the four.

Because of their size the women couldn't row next to the men, but they still wanted to handle the oars. With the help of Jack Young from the alumni association, the women's crew was created. Now as a part of the Purdue Crew Club, they are practicing daily on the Wabash. The initial 50 at the callout have been trimmed to 25 women who practice regularly under the coaching of Chris Polhemus, John North and Kevin Sauer from the men's varsity team. There is one drawback to the practices, though. Because of limited funding - $3000 a year for men and women combined - both teams must share boats. The men's club practices in the afternoon, making use of all the equipment at that time. So every morning, at 6:30, the women's team starts practice. What do they think about while pulling the 12-foot-one-inch long oars? "Going back to bed," said one woman. "Making the dock on the last run," said another. According to the women, falling in the water is the most unpleasant aspect of rowing. For the past month, morning temperatures have been in the low 40's or high 30's. When pushing off from the dock in the capsizable one-or-two-individual shells, they have learned to be careful. Once on the river, the early rise and hard work seem worth it all. "It's so pretty once you get out there," remarks Kathy Brady. The women's feeling of self-satisfaction is also a compensating factor. "It feels so good at the end of practice when you head for the dock and know that you've done it," one member said. Public reaction has been one of surprise. A myth exists that the exercises, weight lifting, running and of course rowing, would turn the women into muscular hulks. On the contrary, the exercises are designed to tone the muscles much like a swimmer's long muscles. None of the women have confirmed the myth by turning into amazons. The newly-formed team hasn't yet participated in any intercollegiate meets, but starting next spring the women will compete everywhere the men's crew does. For the present they are concentrating on achieving form. Varsity crew member and women's Coach Sauer said, "One thing the girls have in their favor is that they have good balance and coordination in the boats." Such qualities can make the difference between winning and losing. Eventually the women's crew may become a "separate but equal" counterpart to the men's. The reason is that the women don't think the coaches should have to come to practice at 6:30 in the morning in addition to practicing with the men's team in the afternoon. The main impetus for sharing facilities with the men is financial. A used shell costs $3,000, the same amount the men and women's crew together are budgeted each year. As a supplementary measure, the women's team has had a bake sale. In an effort to raise more funds, the crew club is sponsoring a dance this weekend. But the women cannot operate on an independent basis immediately.

Parent's Club

Purdue Crew Parent's Club was established in 1990 as a parent-run organization that's main focus was assisting the team with meals while traveling for races. Originally only a few volunteers that wanted to help the crew, Parent's club is now an integral part of how the club functions at regattas. While still separate from the club in terms of memberships and budgets, Parent's club stores their equipment used at regattas at the Crew's boathouse.

Racing (Fall)

Racing (Spring)

Parents Day

Every fall team members assemble at the Purdue Crew Boathouse for an open house event showcasing team equipment, facilities, and team accomplishments. The purpose of the event is to introduce parents of novice team members to the sport of rowing and how Purdue Crew will positively impact any college student’s time at the university.

Hunger Hike

Hunger Hike, an annual community fundraising event, is hosted by Lafayette Urban Ministry with the goal of raising awareness and making a difference in the fight against hunger. Purdue Crew remains involved with LUM in the fall by attending the opening ceremonies event on Sunday and then leading the traditional Hunger Hike 3k Walk. With a lasting connection Purdue Crew continues to assist and support Lafayette Urban Ministry in many ways. The team stays involved with Hunger Hike by leading the 3K walk to fight hunger by carrying a racing shell to help bring attention to the cause!

Feast of the Hunter's Moon Set-up and Cleanup

A major attraction to West Lafayette every fall is the Feast of the Hunters Moon located at Fort Ouiatenon. Being so close to the old fort boathouse this is something that we began helping with a few years ago. Purdue Crew helps the Feast supervisors help set up the grounds for the event every year by raising the tents for the vendors and attractions that are coming to the event. We also tear down the tents and clean up the grounds from any trash or unwanted objects. This is another great way we stay involved in the community, and raise money for the club. We also receive free tickets to the feast for the club and have people that really enjoy going and experiencing the event.

Rent-a-Rower

Every fall Purdue Crew hosts a fundraising event in the local community. This is program that was started in the 1980s as a club fundraiser. Since then this program has greatly expanded into the largest fundraiser for Purdue Crew, usually raising over $20,000 a year. Paying for a majority of the spring racing and travel fees for the program. This program allows for local community members and Purdue faculty and staff to book rowers to come out and help them with a large variety of work. Most of which is yard work to help the community to prepare for the winter ahead.

Homecoming Parade

To kick-off homecoming weekend, Purdue Student Union Board (PUSB) organizes the Purdue Homecoming parade which includes students from participating organizations showcasing floats and walking demonstrations relating to the current year’s theme. Purdue Crew continues to stay involved with the homecoming tradition by walking one eight-man racing shell decorated to the theme of that year. In the fall of 2015 the theme “Bundle up Boilers” expressed a “holiday or winter” theme. The crew decorated the racing shell by wrapping a black resolute shell in gold garland around the shell as a large present. Handing out candy and singing the “Purdue Crew version” of “Hail Purdue” with the famous “Let’s go Purdue Rowing” at the end are typical activities expressed each year at the parade.

Dash on the Wabash

Dash on the Wabash, an in-house event created and carried out within the team, is a race on the Wabash River between boats composed of mixed boats of Novice Men / Varsity Men and Novice Women / Varsity Women. Each boat lineup, devised before race day, decides on a costume or theme and a unique name. Two boats at a time are raced bracket style in a 1000 m dash on a stretch of the river normally visible from the boathouse depending on season water levels. The winner of each bracket receives a now coveted “Dash Champion” t-shirt and bragging rights for the remaining season.

Row-a-Thon

Row-a-thon is both an event that takes place at Tippecanoe County Mall in Lafayette, IN and a Spring time campaign to reach out to family and alumni to help support the program going into racing season as well as support Lafayette Urban Ministry. Aside from covering the head coaches' and assistant coaches' salary, the program sustains itself from both membership dues and generous donations from alumni and family. Aside from handwriting letters, row-a-thon is a physical activity as well. Usually held in the last week of January, or first week of February, the team will set up posters presenting the crew's accomplishments and also a number of ergs to demonstrate rowing. Athletes can decide to row a marathon's distance (26 miles, a mere 42,164 meters) on the ergometer for their workout at this event. While donations can be made while at the mall, the event has a greater purpose of raising awareness about the program and staying involved in the community.

Team Spring Banquet

Held the weekend before "dead week," the week preceding final exams, Purdue Crew holds the End of the Year or Spring Banquet. This event focuses on the accomplishments of the crew of the current season as well as accomplishments of the winning crews from the previous season's Dad Vail and ACRAs regattas. Family and friends are invited, lunch is served, and for many learning about rowing is a first at the Team Spring Banquet. Seniors who have spent four years with the program receive special recognition on this morning. Also, inter-squad awards for the Hovde Award and Most Valuable Oarsman are presented. Coaches are also recognized for their accomplishments, specifically the Graduate Assistants as they might be coming in on their last few weeks at the university as well.