Who runs each program, their background, and what to know before making contact. Sorted by program tier.
Tier 1: National Championship Contenders
Harvard — Billy Boyce
|
|
| Title |
Friends of Harvard Lightweight Rowing Coach (Head Coach) |
| Tenure |
10th season (2016–present) |
| Background |
5 seasons as Harvard heavyweight assistant before taking lightweight job. Coached Harvard freshman 8+ to Sprints title 2015. As lightweight HC: undefeated Sprints seasons 2024–25, first Temple Challenge Cup win at Henley Royal Regatta 2025. |
| Associate HC |
Ian Accomando |
| Recruiting note |
Boyce runs the most competitive lightweight recruiting in the country. Team culture emphasizes volume and technical precision. Erg threshold is highest in the league. |
| Contact |
boyce@fas.harvard.edu |
Yale — Andy Card
|
|
| Title |
Head Coach, Yale Lightweight Crew |
| Tenure |
38th season (since ~1989) |
| Background |
Princeton '85, 3-time Sprints champion as rower, captain of undefeated 1985 varsity. Coached US lightweight 4- to first American gold in that event (1993 Worlds). Helped coach US lightweight 8+ to gold at 1999 Worlds. National titles at Yale: 2011 V8, back-to-back Jope Cups 2012–13. |
| Assistant |
Ned DelGuercio (6-time national team member, 2-time world champion) |
| Recruiting note |
Longest-tenured lightweight coach in the league. Known for technical focus and steady program building. Boathouse shared with heavyweight program — culture is competitive but not frantic. |
| Contact |
andrew.card@yale.edu |
Princeton — Matt Smith
|
|
| Title |
Head Coach, Princeton Men's Lightweight Rowing |
| Tenure |
1st season (July 2025–present) |
| Background |
11 seasons coaching Princeton heavyweight boats before promotion. Guided heavyweights to 27 Sprints medals, 13 IRA medals. Coached 5 Olympians (4 medals). 2024: Princeton heavyweights won Rowe Cup at Sprints, 2nd at IRAs. First interaction with Princeton was as an athlete coached by legendary lightweight coach Joe Murtaugh in summer 1997. |
| Associate HC |
David Burke (promoted 2025, longtime Princeton assistant) |
| Recruiting note |
New to lightweight job but deeply embedded in Princeton rowing culture. First year at helm — recruiting approach still forming, but expectations remain HYP-tier. |
| Contact |
ms43@princeton.edu |
Cornell — Tyler Nase
|
|
| Title |
Henry E. Bartels '48 Head Coach of Men's Lightweight Rowing |
| Tenure |
4th season (Dec 2022–present) |
| Background |
Princeton '13, senior captain, 3-year varsity 8+ member, 2010 IRA national champion. 2016 Olympian in men's lightweight 4- (Rio). 2-time World Team member. Still holds fastest American lightweight 2k erg: 6:04.4. Former Penn assistant (2017–22); helped Quakers win first Sprints title in 50 years (2019). At Cornell: first HOCR win in 5 years (2022), 4th at IRAs 2024 (best since 2019). |
| Assistant |
David Tigerman '21 |
| Recruiting note |
Young, active recruiter with recent elite racing experience. Understands erg numbers from inside the boat. Program trending upward after post-Kerber transition. |
| Contact |
tn363@cornell.edu |
Columbia — Nich Lee Parker
|
|
| Title |
Head Coach, Columbia Lightweight Rowing |
| Tenure |
13th season (2013–present) |
| Background |
Ohio State BA (music education + German), Purdue MS (sports pedagogy), Columbia PhD (biomechanics, neuroscience/motor control). Former assistant at Yale, Purdue, USRowing Junior National Team. 2 IRA national titles (2016, 2018), 3rd title in 2022. 2018 Ivy League Coach of the Year. Edited 2 books on rowing technique and mental skills. Presents at rowing conferences. Also runs "The RowLab" coaching consultancy. |
| Assistant |
Reid Cucci |
| Recruiting note |
Most academically credentialed coach in the league. Program culture blends sport science with traditional discipline. Strong international pipeline (first Olympian under his coaching: Jakub Buczek '16, Tokyo 2020). |
| Contact |
nal2134@columbia.edu |
Tier 2: Strong Programs, Competitive but Slightly Lower Erg Bar
Dartmouth — Trevor Michelson
|
|
| Title |
Head Coach, Dartmouth Men's Lightweight Rowing |
| Tenure |
4th season as HC (assistant since 2017) |
| Background |
Wesleyan '13, team captain, MVP, 4-year varsity. World University Games 2015 (US lightweight single sculler). Former Wesleyan assistant/recruiting coordinator, Vesper BC U23 lightweight HC, Fordham assistant. Ended Dartmouth's 10-year IRA absence. 2024: V8 silver at IRAs, 2nd place team. 6 rowers to U23 Worlds. US U23 national team coach: bronze 2023 (coxed 4), gold 2024 (coxed 4). |
| Assistant |
Noah Axford |
| Recruiting note |
Already invited Liam for official visit — this is the program most actively pursuing him. Michelson emphasizes relationships and low-pressure culture. Strong on athlete development pathway. |
| Contact |
Trevor.D.Michelson@dartmouth.edu |
Penn — Colin Farrell
|
|
| Title |
Fred W. Leonard Head Coach of Lightweight Rowing |
| Tenure |
12th season (2014–present) |
| Background |
Learned to row on Boathouse Row. Assistant at Penn (2012–14), promoted after interim stint. 2019 EARC/Ivy League Coach of the Year. First Sprints V8 title since 1976 (2019). First Jope Cup since 1967 (2024). V8 made Grand Final at 10 of 11 IRAs under Farrell — first time in program history. First Penn boats at Henley since 1991 (2019). US U23 national team coach 7 years. |
| Assistant |
Taylor Brown |
| Recruiting note |
Program on clear upward trajectory. Farrell has rebuilt Penn from mid-pack to consistent medal threat. Strong Philadelphia rowing network. |
| Contact |
(via Penn Athletics recruiting form) |
Georgetown — Ethan Shoemaker
|
|
| Title |
Head Coach, Georgetown Men's Lightweight Rowing |
| Tenure |
2nd season (2024–present) |
| Background |
Named by Georgetown Head Rowing Coach Jim Granger. 2024: varsity 4 won both EARC and IRA championships. Program has separate lightweight and heavyweight tracks under Granger's overall direction. |
| Recruiting note |
Newer coach, still establishing recruiting identity. Georgetown is top non-Ivy lightweight program — no Likely Letter system, but strong financial aid. Good fit for athletes wanting competitive lightweight rowing outside Ivy admissions structure. |
| Contact |
(via Georgetown Athletics recruiting form) |
Navy — Shawn Bagnall
|
|
| Title |
Head Coach, Navy Men's Lightweight Rowing |
| Tenure |
13th season (2013–present) |
| Background |
2021 IRA team champion — clean sweep of V8, 2V8, V4- (first Navy team title since 2004). 5 straight first-place event results at IRAs 2017–2022. V4+ gold 2017, V4- gold 2018, V4+ and V4- gold 2019, V8/2V8/V4- gold 2021, 2V8/V4+ gold 2022. International coach: U23 women's 8+ gold at 2012 and 2013 World Championships. |
| Assistant |
David Herrick |
| Recruiting note |
Military service commitment required post-graduation (5-year active duty). Different recruiting timeline and requirements than civilian schools. Coach Bagnall runs a disciplined, technically focused program. Strong for athletes interested in service academy path. |
| Contact |
bagnall@usna.edu |
Tier 3: MIT (D3, Top Academics)
MIT — Will Oliver-Milchman
|
|
| Title |
Gerrit Zwart '62 Men's Varsity Lightweight Crew Coach |
| Tenure |
16th season (2010–present) |
| Background |
Virginia '04, team captain, 3-year first boat. Coached at Bryanston School (England), then Virginia freshman/head coach. 1-year Georgetown heavyweight assistant before MIT. 2013 Dad Vail gold (V4+), 2014/2022/2023 Dad Vail gold (V8). 2015: No. 3 national ranking (highest under his tenure). 2025: first IRA medal in program history — bronze in V8. Named 2025 IRCA National Lightweight Coach of the Year. |
| Recruiting note |
D3 — no athletic scholarships, no Likely Letters. Recruiting is softer; admissions operates independently. Sub-6:50 erg gets attention but academics must be exceptional (MIT's general admit SAT range is 1530–1580). Oliver-Milchman builds incrementally — program has moved from also-ran to IRA medalist over his tenure. |
| Contact |
w_oliver@mit.edu |
Note on Syracuse
Syracuse fields heavyweight men's rowing only, coached by Dave Reischman (24th season, 6 IRA V8 national championships). Syracuse does not have a lightweight program. Syracuse was included in the original program list because it is a D1 IRA program, but Liam should focus recruiting energy on the lightweight-specific programs above.
| School |
Head Coach |
Email |
Phone |
| Harvard |
Billy Boyce |
boyce@fas.harvard.edu |
(617) 495-7775 |
| Yale |
Andy Card |
andrew.card@yale.edu |
(203) 494-7551 |
| Princeton |
Matt Smith |
ms43@princeton.edu |
(609) 258-5356 |
| Cornell |
Tyler Nase |
tn363@cornell.edu |
255-4017 |
| Columbia |
Nich Lee Parker |
nal2134@columbia.edu |
(212) 854-4872 |
| Dartmouth |
Trevor Michelson |
Trevor.D.Michelson@dartmouth.edu |
(603) 646-8601 |
| Penn |
Colin Farrell |
— |
— |
| Georgetown |
Ethan Shoemaker |
— |
— |
| Navy |
Shawn Bagnall |
bagnall@usna.edu |
(410) 293-2418 |
| MIT |
Will Oliver-Milchman |
w_oliver@mit.edu |
(617) 253-9676 |
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Email beats form. Direct email to the head coach is better than filling out a generic recruiting questionnaire. Keep it short: name, club, 2k time, height/weight, GPA/SAT, top 3 race results. Attach a 1-page resume if you have one.
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Know their recent results. Mentioning you watched their IRA/Sprints race or read about their Henley trip shows genuine interest. Coaches notice who has done homework.
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Ask about timeline. Every coach runs recruiting on a different schedule. Dartmouth may invite visits early; HYP schools may wait until summer contact period (July 1). Ask directly: "When do you typically extend official visit invitations?"
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CC your club coach. A brief note from Liam's NorCal Crew coach carries more weight than any self-description. Coaches trust coaches.
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Follow up once. If no response in 2 weeks, one polite follow-up is fine. Then move on — lack of response usually means lack of interest or full roster.