George Washington University Athletics
GW Names Mark Davis Men's Rowing Head Coach
9/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Rowing
Sept. 14, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC - Mark Davis has been named head coach for men's rowing at The George Washington University, Senior Associate Director of Athletics Mary Jo Warner has announced. Davis replaces former head coach Greg Myhr, who resigned in August to accept a similar position at the University of Pennsylvania.
Davis will be responsible for all aspects of the Colonials men's rowing program, which opens the 2009-10 season on Oct. 11 at the Occoquan Chase in Woodbridge, VA. Davis comes to Foggy Bottom from Yale University, where he spent three seasons as head coach and lead recruiter of the Heavyweight Freshman Men's Rowing team in New Haven, CT. While at Yale, Davis' Freshmen Eight finished in the grand finals of the Eastern Sprints all three seasons. His freshmen eight in 2008 also finished fourth at the IRA Nationals. Davis brings 16 years of coaching experience to George Washington.
Davis also was the head men's rowing coach at the University of California at San Diego for three years prior to his stint at Yale. His crews won five medals at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships, while UCSD won the overall point trophy at the 2006 WIRA championship for the first time in the program's history. Prior to UCSD, Davis was the assistant women's rowing coach at the University of Texas at Austin.
While at Austin, Davis spent three years helping to elevate the Texas program to its first bid to the NCAA Women's Rowing Championship in 2003. Texas finished 12th in the nation that year, its best performance ever. From 1996-2000, Davis was the head men's and women's rowing coach at Colby (ME) College. He transformed a struggling club team into an elite Division III varsity program. His crews won medals at the New England Championships, Dad Vails, Champion Regatta, IRAs, and the Head of the Charles.
Davis began his coaching career at his alma mater, Hobart College, where he studied under his mentor and former Yale coach, Jim Joy. A 1993 graduate of Hobart, Davis earned a B.A. in United States history and was captain of the rowing team.
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