DIRECTOR OF ROWING

Summary of responsibilities

Overall Management of Rowing Program(s)

  • Oversight of all activities for the men’s and women’s teams

  • Serve as both Women’s OW head coach and Director of Rowing

  • Lead and supervise coaching staff of both teams and provide advisory support

  • Represent rowing in athletic department and institutional planning

  • Manage program culture, alignment with college mission, and equity in experience.

Direct Coaching

  • Develop and implement training plans

  • Conduct and attend practices

  • Provide technical and strategic instruction

  • Determine race lineups and review competition schedules

  • Foster positive team culture and student-athlete development

Boathouse and Equipment Oversight

  • Daily management of all rowing facilities, on and off-campus

  • Track, maintain, and repair rowing shells, oars, motorboats, ergs, and associated equipment

  • Maintain insurance and capital asset inventory

  • Plan for equipment turnover and large capital purchases

  • Coordinate fuel, trailer, truck, and launch maintenance

  • Resolve conflicts and create shared use schedules for the boathouse and training spaces.

Safety Protocols and Risk Management

  • Make weather-based “go/no-go” decisions

  • Coordinate comprehensive safety education programs

  • Ensure USCG and DOT compliance

  • Maintain emergency action plans (EAP) with Sports Medicine and Administration

  • Delegate safety responsibilities when absent

Experience, salaries, and contracts

Of the 5 institutions that participated in this section…

  • The average number of years at an institution for a Director of Rowing is currently 9-12 years.

  • All five Directors of Rowing indicated that they have 21+ years of full-time collegiate coaching experience.

How long has the Director of Rowing been in this role at your institution?

Is the Director of Rowing USRowing certified?

Of the 5 institutions that participated in this section, all five indicated that the Director of Rowing is a full-time, salaried position.

The average FY25 range for a Director of Rowing was $101k-$116k.

All five Directors of Rowing indicated that their salary is university funded. 4 perceive that they are underpaid relative to their peers and 1 perceives that they are paid fairly.

The breakdown below shows each response grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.

If salaried, what is the base range for FY25?

$80,000-89,000

$100,000-124,000

Facility Maintenance

  • Coordinate upkeep and repairs of rowing facilities

  • Submit and track maintenance work orders

  • Liaise with housekeeping, facilities, and grounds staff as needed

Home Race Coordination

  • Organize volunteers, race schedules, results, launch use for visiting teams, etc.

  • Manage trailer parking, rigging, and logistics for visiting teams and spectators

Financial Oversight:

  • Assist in annual budgeting with other coaches

  • Lead stewardship of shared resources (i.e. equipment endowment)

  • Ensure all spending stays within approved limits and channels

Alumni & Donor Engagement:

  • Act as liaison to advancement/development officew

  • Lead efforts for institutional/department Giving Days and long-term rowing support.

  • Ensure equity in areas such as gear, travel, and training amongst teams

$60,000-69,000 per year

$90,000-99,000 per year

$175,000-199,000 per year

On average, how frequently does the Director of Rowing do a compensation review with their supervisor?

Of the 5 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 2 indicated that they annually review their compensation with their supervisor

  • 3 indicated that they review their compensation every 2-3 years

How long is the Director of Rowing’s contract?

Of the 41 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 3 coaches indicated they have a 1 year contract, with the option to renew

  • 2 coaches indicated they have a 3 year contract, with the option to renew

Traditional and non-traditional benefits

With regards to traditional benefits offered to full-time employees and of the 5 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 5 Directors of Rowing indicated they health insurance was part of their benefits package

  • 4 indicated vision/dental insurance was part of their benefits package

  • 4 indicated life insurance was part of their benefits package

  • 5 indicated retirement contributions/401k match was part of their benefits package

  • 4 indicated tuition reimbursement for themselves or their dependents was part of their benefits package

  • 4 indicated paid family leave was part of their benefits package

  • 5 indicated paid vacation time/sick days were part of their benefits package

  • 3 indicated short/long term disability was part of their benefits package

  • 3 indicated that employee assistantance programs, mental health/wellness initiatives, etc. were part of their benefits package

With regards to non-traditional benefits offered to full-time employees and of the 4 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 2 indicated that they have access to a dedicated work phone or are reimbursed for their cell phone

Health insurance

Dedicated work phone or cell phone reimbursement

Vision/dental insurance

Duties outside of standard Director of Rowing responsibilities

Of the 5 institutions that participated in this section, none indicated that they had additional duties outside of and/or in addition to their day-to-day responsibilities.

One Director of Rowing indicated that they are a member of the athletic director’s advisory committee.

Life insurance

Retirement contributions/401k match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid family leave

Paid vacation/sick days

Employee assistance programs, mental health/wellness initiatives, etc.