USRowing Names Steve Hargis Junior National Team Development Coach

November 03, 2008 (PRINCETON, N.J.) - USRowing is pleased to announce the hiring of Steve Hargis as the USRowing Junior National Team Development Coach, the organization announced on Monday.

Hargis, who has worked with the junior women's national team program for the past decade including serving as the team's head coach since 2004, will now lead USRowing's junior national team development program for both the men and women.

During his tenure at the helm of the junior women's development camp, the program grew from 25 athletes to over 80 each summer. He also led the expansion of the junior B development program, put a stronger emphasis on sculling and created "high performance" training opportunities in Europe each summer for aspiring junior national team athletes.

As head coach of the junior national team, Hargis has raised the bar for athletes wanting to compete at the international level, which has resulted in a higher level of consistency. His women's eight reached the medal podium each of the past three years, which culminated in the United States' winning its first-ever gold medal in the event in 2008.

Hargis' efforts have also paid off at the Olympic level, as several former junior national team rowers made boats this past summer including the first group of athletes who came up through the development camp. Development camp alumnae included Olympic gold medalists Caroline Lind and Eleanor Logan from the women's eight, as well as Lindsay Meyer from the women's quadruple sculls.

In his new position, Hargis will be responsible for:

• Creating and implementing a plan for athlete development of junior rowers (under 18) in the U.S.
• Preparing a training program for the junior development athletes in consultation with the USRowing High Performance Director.
• Organizing and implementing the junior development program including talent identification, training programs, testing, athlete consultations, camps, scheduling and site selection.
• Being available for consultations with different groups of junior athletes and coaches. 

In his new position, Hargis has already initiated some new programs including looking at the viability of regional camps by working with a group of athletes from the Florida Scholastic Rowing Association. He is also developing materials to enhance the Junior National Team section of the USRowing Web site. Athletes or coaches who want more information on these programs can contact Hargis directly at (860) 961-6664 or shargis@snet.net.

USRowing is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. USRowing's Official Sponsor is Johnson & Johnson; its Official Suppliers are Hudson Boat Works and NIKE, Inc.; its Official Patron is Concept2; its Official Electronics Outfitter is Nielsen Kellerman; its Official Timer is Powerhouse Timing; and its Preferred Printer is Sport Graphics Printing. USRowing also receives generous support from the National Rowing Foundation.