This is Joe McMullin’s take on the types of questions that should be asked of any program that you’re interviewing for as a high school rowing coach to help ensure your goals and vision align with the prospective program.

 What is the vision for the board?

• What are the average athlete numbers for all 4 teams? What events do they compete in?
•  What races are the priority races? Stotes, SRAAs, Youths, Charles?
•  What boats/events are the primary boats? 1V? Jr 8? 4? Lwt? Who makes that decision? Why is our priority boat an 8 or a 4? Are we looking at the same boat class for all 4 squads?
• How are selection procedures expected to be handled? Is it a meritocracy? Does the coach have the final call on lineups? When do lineups need to be submitted to major regattas?
• If there is a transition from 4+s to 8+s, what is the tolerance? 1 year? 2 years?
•  What will get staff let go? Are background checks made?
• How are board members selected and elected? Is there a vetting process?
• Is there a parent liaison who can help with basic questions from parents?
• Are coaches encouraged to attend coaching conferences? Are they financed by the board?

How is the team financed?

• How much are dues?
• How are dues paid? All at once? Broken up over 1/3s or 1/4s(fall, winter, spring, big races)?
• How is fundraising handled? How much does fundraising usually bring in?
• What is the goal of fundraising? To offset dues or to pay for boats?
• How does the treasurer present his/her report? Just totals or line by line?
• How often are new shells, equipment (ergs and oars), and motor boats purchased? New set of oars every year?
• What is the purchase plan for shells? Alternating years between men and women?
• Purchase plan for ergs? 2 or 3 replacements a year?
• How are incidentals paid for? Is there a limit?

What is the relationship with the school(s)?

• Is there and/or how is the relationship with the principal? 
• The athletic director?
• Does the school sponsor the team?
• Can the ergs be stored at the school?
• Can kids get out of school for training trips and races? How does that process work?

How does the hiring process work?

• Does the HC post the listing?
• Does the head coach do the initial interview or is it a board member?
• What is the HC salary? What are the assistants salaries/freshman coaches? Willing to pay more to attract better coaches?
• What value does the team place on new shells vs what they pay the coach who is coaching the boat? Ex: $45K boat while paying the coach $15K
• What is the structure of the pay? Per practice or monthly?
• Are there bonuses? What is the bonus structure? Is it based on retention and/or success on the water?

Equipment 

• How many shells and what types does the team have? What brand of boats? Why? Is there a universal boat company: Vespoli, Resolute, Empacher, Fillipi, Hudson?
• How many motor boats does the team have?
•  Cox boxes: how many are there? What is the limit on buying them?

Servicing equipment?

• Who fixes the shells when there is major damage? Use Finish Line? Send back to manufacturer?
• Who services the motors? How often are they serviced?
• Who services the ergs? Coaches?
• How is gas bought?

Access to middle school to recruit

• What is the relationship with the middle school administration?
• What is the process?
• Is there a day given to speak to the 8^th grade class? Run a demonstration?
• Are flyers mailed to every incoming freshman’s household?
• How is recruiting and sign up handled throughout the year?

Fall Training

• When does the school year start? When does crew start?
• Is there a Fall info meeting?
• What are the fall regattas? HotP, Charles, Schuylkill, Occoquan races?
• Do we row/train in November after the HOTO?
• How are the morning practices versus afternoon practices divied up?

 Winter training

•  How many ergs does the team have? Are there RP3s? Are there C2 Sliders?
• What is the typical practice schedule?
• Train at the school? Possible to train at gym (like WSC)
• Access to weights and spin bikes?
• Training on school closures days (snow days) and Saturdays?
• Are we able to row during the winter if it is safe?
• What indoor races do we attend? Yorktown Relays? Mid-Atlantics? Are those required?
• Can the team take a winter training trip? FL?

Spring Racing

• Is there a spring safety meeting? Coaches safety document?
• Spring break schedule? How is it determined?
• Can the team take a spring training trip? FL, Oakridge, TN, Camp Bob, SC?
• How is the racing schedule decided?
• Every kid gets a race, but does every kid race the championship races? States, Conference, Stotes, SRAAs, Youths?
• Is there a Spring meeting to layout expectations for athletes and parents?

Henley Trip

• What is the criteria to go? Erg ave plus winning races and championships?
  • Ex: sub 6:30 boys V8+ . Really need sub 6:20 to compete
  • Ex: sub 7:30 girls V8+. Really need sub 7:20 to compete
  • Winning or medaling at Stotesbury, SRAAs?
• How early can flights be booked for the trip?
• How long can the trip be?
• How is fundraising handled?