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Phone: 570-577-1770
The 2007-2008 campaign was the 12th for Stephen Kish as head coach of the Bucknell women's rowing team. A 1992 Bucknell graduate and native of Miami, Fla. (Palmetto High School), Kish served as president of Bucknell rowing his senior year and received the Most Valuable Rower award, as well. After graduation, Kish remained in Lewisburg to serve as an assistant coach under Jimmy King `90. In 1993 Kish relocated to New England, where he served as head coach at the University of Rhode Island, supervising three assistant coaches and over 70 rowers in the men's and women's programs. Kish led three crews to medals at the New England Championships in 1995, and the men's novice eight placed fourth at the Champion International Collegiate Regatta. Since Kish returned to lead the Bison program in 1996, the women's rowing team has made a name for itself. The team has had unmatched success over the last three years, winning three consecutive Patriot League Championships, earning the ECAC Metro Championship twice and claiming the 2007 IRA Lightweight National Championship, the first national title in school history. In 2007, Kish led the Bison rowing team to its best year yet. The squad swept all three events at the Patriot League Championship for the first time and went on the following weekend to sweep the varsity events at the ECAC Metro Championship and win the Overall Points Trophy. Coaching primarily the varsity eight, Kish helped the boat to an impressive 8-1 record, including a season-opening victory at the Murphy Cup Regatta. Additionally, the lightweight eight won the IRA National Championship Regatta. The 2008 campaign featured additional success as Kish led Bucknell to its third consecutive Patriot League title, another ECAC Metro Championship, a second straight Murphy Cup title, a victory at the Knecht Cup and a fourth-place showing at the IRA Regatta, the lightweight boat's third consecutive berth in the grand final at the event. The Bison faced their most challenging schedule during Kish's tenure and the varsity eight posted a strong 9-2 record, going more than two months between losses. Among the most impressive feats of the 2008 campaign was a berth in the Eastern Sprints for the first time in program history. Kish led the team to an eighth-place finish out of 18 teams, including three that ended the year nationally ranked. Kish has also overseen the program's three trips to the Henley Women's Regatta (2000, 2004 and 2008) and its nine varsity medals (three gold, five silver, one bronze) at the Dad Vail Regatta. Kish's achievements as head coach have not gone unnoticed. The veteran mentor has claimed five coach of the year awards since 2006. He was named the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2008 and earned the CRCA Lightweight Coach of the Year trophy in 2007. Additionally, Kish, who has seen the varsity eight named the league's Boat of the Year three times, was named Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2007. Recent program developments under Kish include the construction of a boathouse, a much-improved equipment inventory, including quadruple sculls and singles, a full-time, four-person coaching staff, and an ever-increasing number of opportunities for Bucknell student-athletes to develop as leaders. |
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