A high school rowing coach friend of mine was recently offered $75,000 a year to go coach at a rival program. On face value this seems like an absurd amount of money to coach high school athletes, but is completely in line with where our sport should be.

Coaching high school athletes is a full time job. The practices can last anywhere from 3 to 4 hours at the training facility and on the water. Away from practice coaches are making lineups, designing training plans, managing the fleet, coordinating with the board on planning regattas and raising funds for the team, which can include attending meetings, reviewing athlete paperwork, getting entries in for regattas, etc. Also, regatta days can last anywhere from 8 to 12 hours. That could average out anywhere from 40 to 60 hours a week, easily.

Why does our sport assume coaching is a noble endeavor? You, the coach, should be compensated for your time and the value you bring to the program. I’ve heard that a top 5 youth coach is paid $100K for his base salary and an additional $80K from a $2 million dollar endowment. This coach has one of the most competitive programs in the country with nearly 100 athletes and regularly medaling at major regattas in the spring and fall.

Why does our sport have no problem paying $40-$65K for new shells and not compensating the coaches who are tasked with making the crew go fast? Is it because the shells are new and shinny? My 2019 SRAA championship crew rowed a 6 year old Empacher that was previously owned by USC Openweight Women. The team bought the shell for $20K. My 2022 Stotesbury and SRAA championship crew rowed an 8 year old lightly used Empacher that was purchased for $28K. Shells are like cars, they devalue pretty quickly off the lot. Why not pay for top level coaches and buy used equipment? College teams are always looking to off load equipment that is well maintained by hired boatmen.

Lastly, its the rowers, the coxswain, and the coach that helps guide the crew that makes the boat go fast; not the price tag of the boat.

Our sport can be better and do better by paying you, the coach a fair and reasonable salary for your time. Never get paid less than the value of the shell that you’re coaching. Be compensated for your value to the organization and your time.