Best of 2023 – Coach of the Year

BY CHIP DAVIS | PHOTO COURTESY CAL ATHLETICS

The 2023 Best Of series features the athletes, events, and moments that mattered in the year in rowing.

Coach of the Year 

The Golden Bears repeated as IRA national champions, winning the program’s 19th title in an overwhelming display of speed and depth. Head coach Scott Frandsen’s crews won the heavyweight varsity four, third-varsity eight, second-varsity eight, varsity eight, and Ten Eyck points trophy.

“It’s been a full team effort from top to bottom, with the varsity eight leading the charge,” said Frandsen, emphasizing as usual buy-in by his whole squad and the broad support of others.  “A lot of credit goes to my staff and everyone in our administration who has helped us all year. We had an outstanding group of student-athletes on the team, and the generation that came before them laid the foundation for this team culture to be possible.”

That support has been earned by Frandsen, a Cal oarsman himself, through relentless hard work and constant relationship-building that culminated in a $10 million gift from the Rogers Family Foundation in partnership with the Friends of Cal Crew to endow the men’s rowing program.

Winning a national championship is a tremendous accomplishment, but playing a key role in securing your program’s long-term future is an even greater achievement. Frandsen did both this year, with modesty and grace.

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