No one needs to tell Greg Myhr. He鈥檚 well aware of the lofty expectations in his first-year as 蓝莓视频 men鈥檚 rowing coach.
Myhr is ready to put in the hard work to get the Pioneers back on top. He鈥檚 also asking his rowers to do the same, and he鈥檚 excited to have three 8s hitting the Muskingum and Ohio rivers daily this fall, laying the groundwork for speed in the spring season.
Myhr enjoyed meeting with alumni of the program and learning more about the storied history of men鈥檚 rowing during Homecoming festivities in October. Now he鈥檚 focused on recruiting and coaching his rowers as they prepare for the 2020 season 鈥 just one year away from celebrating 150 years of men鈥檚 rowing.
What was it about 蓝莓视频 men鈥檚 rowing that attracted you to this position?
MYHR: Everyone I met and spoke with about 蓝莓视频 and Marietta men鈥檚 rowing exuded an enthusiasm and expansiveness that I haven鈥檛 seen matched elsewhere. There is a pervasive sense here that this is a terrific place to be 鈥 and that everyone is working hard to make it even better. No one is talking about limits 鈥 only, 鈥淲hat can we do now, and how do we get there?鈥 That鈥檚 a terrifically exciting environment to be a part of.
How much did you know about Marietta鈥檚 storied history in rowing before you applied for the job?
MYHR: I knew this was an old program, and I knew Marietta was a founding member of the Dad Vail. But I鈥檓 embarrassed to say that I really didn鈥檛 fathom the extent to which Marietta is woven into the fabric of U.S. collegiate rowing history. I also didn鈥檛 realize how many legends of rowing in this country rowed at Marietta. I keep learning more, and it鈥檚 truly astounding.
Can you talk about your immediate goals and long-term goals for the program?
MYHR: We have a mandate to get Marietta back to the grand finals, medaling and winning the Dad Vail Championship. It鈥檚 hard to say how long it will take to get back there 鈥 in some respects, that鈥檚 a tall order as there are very good programs in the league that will work very hard to stay in front of us. We were in the third-level final this past spring, so we have a way to go. But the team seems willing to work hard and the support from the College and alumni is extraordinary. We need to grow our national exposure in terms of racing and recruiting, and we need to get to a place where we are sending 8s 鈥 every year 鈥 to the IRA National Championships; sending crews to the Henley Royal Regatta when we鈥檙e fast enough; and putting our athletes back on the U.S. National and Olympic teams. I鈥檓 not so naive to think there won鈥檛 be challenges along the way, but I really do feel that the sky is the limit here at Marietta.
Maintaining a strong relationship with rowing alumni is important for sustained success. How have you been received by the alumni and do you have any plans of how you hope to develop those relationships?
MYHR: This is truly an extraordinary group of alums! I鈥檝e only just met a handful so far, but I鈥檝e heard from many more and everyone is being incredibly supportive. I think the more we can tie the alums and the history of Marietta Rowing to the current team, the better it is for everyone. It is such an enormous advantage to be part of a team with as much history as Marietta, and getting to know the alumni makes it all the more real. I think for the alums, connecting with the current team and seeing that we鈥檙e doing much of the same things that they did when they rowed here reconnects them to the team in a powerful and visceral way. I expect to be in regular contact with the alums with team updates, and less formally, just connecting on a personal basis.
- Tom Perry