HEAVYWEIGHT HEAD COACH
Summary of responsibilities
Coaching & Training
Designing and implementing training programs (on-water, erg, and/or strength training)
Athlete development, leadership, and mentoring
Practice planning, execution, and delegation
Oversight of assistant coaches and coaching staff
Recruiting
Oversight of all aspects of the recruiting process including outreach and evaluation of PSAs, official visits, and conversations with internal departments regarding admissions, financial aid, etc.
Managing recruiting databases and contacts
Often shared with assistants, but HC typically leads or oversees
Fundraising & Alumni Relations
Developing fundraising strategies and campaigns
Coordinating with institutional development offices
Engaging alumni and parents, usually through targeted outreach directed by the development office
Planning alumni and donor events
Program & Team Management
Overseeing daily operations of the rowing program, which in some cases includes both men’s and women’s teams
Team culture building and athlete support
Budget management and financial reporting
Scheduling races, practices, and travel logistics
Equipment & Facilities
Maintenance and procurement of boats, oars, launches, cox boxes, and other necessary equipment
Boathouse and fleet management
Trailering to races and regattas
Repairs, upgrades, registrations for tow vehicles and launches
Administrative Duties
Compliance with NCAA/university rules
Academic support and monitoring
Paperwork, scheduling, CARA logs, expense reports
PE class instruction
Committee work at the department/institutional level
Serving as a Title IX and Clery Act-responsible employee
External Relations & Promotion
Public relations, social media, media/SID liaison
Event planning and race organization
Representing the program at institutional and community events
Additional Duties
Teaching courses (most common at liberal arts colleges)
Supervising other sports or taking on broader athletic department responsibilities
Managing part-time staff, interns, and volunteers
Experience, oversight, and recruiting
Of the 45 institutions that participated in this section…
The average number of years at an institution for a heavyweight head coach is currently 6-9 years.
The average total number of years of full-time collegiate coaching experience for a current heavyweight head coach is 11-14 years.
How long has the heavyweight head coach been in this role at your institution?
How many total years of full-time, collegiate coaching experience does the heavyweight head coach have?
Is the heavyweight head coach USRowing certified?
Is the heavyweight head coach also the head coach of another rowing team at your institution?
Of the 45 institutions that participated in this section…
20 head coaches indicated that they are involved with 25% or less of all recruiting responsibilities
17 indicated that they roughly split recruiting duties with one or more coaches within the program and are involved with ~50% of all recruiting responsibilities
8 indicated they take the lead on all recruiting efforts for the heavyweight team and manages ~75% of all recruiting responsibilities
The average number of days that a heavyweight head coach spent traveling for recruiting purposes was 7.5 days. 33 head coaches indicated that they do no international traveling for recruiting but of the 12 that do, they average around 6 days per year of international recruiting.
In FY25, how many days did/will the heavyweight head coach spend traveling for recruiting purposes?
Of the days spent traveling for recruiting purposes in FY25, how many of those were/will be international?
Of the 45 institutions that participated in this section…
26 indicated that their program/boathouse does not have a Director of Rowing
10 indicated that the heavyweight head coach also retains the Director of Rowing title
6 indicated that the women’s head coach is the program’s Director of Rowing
3 indicated that the program has a Director of Rowing but it is a separate position and is neither the men’s or women’s head coach
The breakdown below shows each range grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.
Our program/boathouse does not have a Director of Rowing
The heavyweight head coach also retains the Director of Rowing title
Our program has a Director of Rowing but it is the women's head coach
Our program has a Director of Rowing but it is a separate position and is neither the men's or women's head coach
Of the 10 heavyweight coaches who also hold the Director of Rowing title…
2 indicated that they have oversight over the men’s lightweight team
4 indicated that they also directly coach the women’s openweight team
6 indicated that they have oversight over the women’s openweight team
1 indicated that they have oversight over the women’s lightweight team
Salaries, contracts, and bonuses
Of the 45 institutions that participated in this section…
40 indicated that the head coach is a full-time position
3 indicated that the head coach is a 10-month contract
2 indicated that the head coach is a part-time position
The pay structure for all of the full-time and 10-month contract positions was listed as “salaried”, whereas one of the part-time positions was listed as “salaried” (making less than $30k per year) and the other was listed as “hourly” at $30/hour for FY25.
The average FY25 salary range for a heavyweight head coach was ~$85k-$99k. The breakdown below shows each range grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.
If salaried, what is the base range for FY25?
Less than $30k per year
$50-59k per year
$60-69k per year
$70-79k per year
$80-89k per year
$90-99k per year
$100-124k per year
$125-149k per year
$150-174k per year
$175-199k per year
$200k+ per year
Of the 45 institutions that participated in this section…
33 indicated that the head coach’s salary was university funded
3 indicated that the head coach’s salary was funded through an endowment
1 indicated that the head coach’s salary is funded through fundraising
8 indicated that the head coach’s salary was funded through a combination of two or more of the above options
The breakdown below shows each range grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.
University funded
Endowed position
Fundraising
A combination of two or more of the above options
Of the 8 head coaches whose salary is funded through a combination of multiple funding sources, the splits included…
University funding (20%) and the position itself being endowed (80%)
University funding (50%) and the position itself being endowed (50%)
University funding (50%) and the position itself being endowed (50%)
University funding (70%) and fundraising (30%)
University funding (40%) and fundraising (60%)
University funding (50%) and endowments, though it is not an endowed position (50%)
University funding (30%), endowments, though it is not an endowed position (10%), fundraising (30%), and other sources not listed (30%)
The position itself being endowed (70%) and fundraising (30%)
On average, how frequently does the heavyweight head coach do a compensation review with their supervisor?
Of the 45 institutions that participated in this section…
16 indicated that they annually review their compensation with their supervisor
10 indicated that they review their compensation every 2-3 years
19 indicated that they review their compensation every 4+ years
The breakdown below shows each range grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.
Annually
Every 2-3 years
Every 4+ years
Generally speaking, does the heavyweight head coach perceive that they are overpaid, fairly paid, or underpaid for the amount and quality of work that they do?
Of the 45 institutions that participated in this section…
28 feel as though they are underpaid relative to their peers
17 feel they are paid fairly
0 feel that they are overpaid
The breakdown below shows each range grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.
Paid fairly
Underpaid
How long is the heavyweight head coach's contract?
Of the 45 institutions that participated in this section…
19 coaches indicated they have a 1 year contract, with the option to renew
6 coaches indicated they have a 2 year contract, with the option to renew
11 coaches indicated they have a 3 year contract, with the option to renew
4 coaches indicated they have a 4 year contract, with the option to renew
5 coaches indicated they have a 5+ year contract, with the option to renew
Of the 18 coaches who indicated that they have bonuses built into their contract, the average total (anticipated) additional income ranged from $3-5k.
3 coaches said yes in response to the question asking if anything anything about receiving performance-based bonuses or the structure of those bonuses changed in the last three years, with the reasons given being…
New athletic director
Increased the list of achievements that qualify and the amounts distributed
Bonuses were not previously given
Does the heavyweight head coach have a performance-based bonus built into their contract?
In an average year, how much total additional income do these performance-based bonuses provide on top of the heavyweight head coach's base salary?
Performance-Based Bonuses
Flat amounts for key achievements:
$1,000–$1,500 for Coach of the Year, APR, or CGPA targets
$2,000 for IRA qualification, winning cup races, or top 3 in league races
$2,500–$5,000 for placing at major regattas (Eastern Sprints, IRAs, Dad Vails)
$3,000-$4,000 for 3.0+ team GPA
$4,000–$11,000 for championship results (top 3 or 1st place)
$4,500 for winning conference championship
Tiered Percentage Bonuses
Bonuses structured as a percent of base salary, based on postseason success:
2% for postseason qualification
Up to 12% for winning a national championship
Combined bonus opportunities throughout the season that total between 15-18% of salary
Other Bonus Structures
Specific dollar amounts tied to individual achievements (e.g., making IRA finals)
3% one-time bonus
Performance incentives not always contractually defined but awarded in the event of national championship wins, Coach/Staff of the Year awards, etc.
Traditional and non-traditional benefits
With regards to traditional benefits offered to full-time employees and of the 45 institutions that participated in this section…
42 head coaches indicated they health insurance was part of their benefits package
39 indicated vision/dental insurance was part of their benefits package
38 indicated life insurance was part of their benefits package
42 indicated retirement contributions/401k match was part of their benefits package
34 indicated tuition reimbursement for themselves or their dependents was part of their benefits package
30 indicated paid family leave was part of their benefits package
37 indicated paid vacation time/sick days were part of their benefits package
32 indicated short/long term disability was part of their benefits package
33 indicated that employee assistantance programs, mental health/wellness initiatives, etc. were part of their benefits package
Only one head coach indicated that their position was not benefits-eligible.
The breakdown below shows each range grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.
Health insurancce
Vision/dental insurance
Life insurance
Retirement contributions/401k match
Tuition reimbursement
Paid family leave
Paid vacation/sick leave
Short/long term disability
Employee assistance programs
With regards to non-traditional benefits offered to full-time employees and of the 45 institutions that participated in this section…
3 head coaches indicated they have access to a vehicle as part of their benefits package
1 indicated they received subsidized commuting or parking
14 indicated that they have access to a dedicated work phone or are reimbursed for their cell phone
1 indicated that they receive housing or housing assistance as part of their benefits package
1 indicated that they have access to a meal plan as part of their benefits package
Only 1 head coach indicated that their position was not benefits-eligible. 27 indicated that none of the non-traditional benefits listed were available to them.
The breakdown below shows each range grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.
Vehicle access
Subsidized commuting or parking
Dedicated work phone/cell phone reimbursement
Housing or housing assistance
Meal plan
None
Duties outside of coaching
Of the 45 institutions that participated in this section…
15 indicated that the head coach has additional department-assigned duties outside of and in addition to their standard coaching duties
30 indicated that the head coach does not have any additional department-assigned duties
The most common department-assigned duty was game day assistance (i.e. managing the game clock at basketball games), followed by teaching a course (typically a PE class). Other responsibilities include facilities management (i.e. swiping people into a building), van fleet reservation and maintenance manager, and academic advising.
16 head coaches indicated that they belong to one or more committees or working groups within their department. The summary of those committees and their focuses are below.
Athletics-Focused Committees
Awards Committee – Planning department events, selecting honorees
Athletic Steering Committee
Performance Science Committee
Championship Coaching Committee – Focused on establishing high-performance standards that lead to winning
Head Coach’s Small Groups – Peer collaboration, policy advising
Search Committees – For hiring within athletics
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
DEI Committees – General within department or institution, women’s coaching-specific groups
League Antiracism Commission
Title IX Board
Faculty & Institutional Governance
Faculty Committees
Institutional Governance Committees – Academic affairs, faculty senate, SAAC mentor
Leadership Councils
Institutional or Special Projects
Mascot Renaming Committee
Student-Athlete Mentoring
College-Wide Committees – Assigned and rotating annually