GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart and William Smith Colleges Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Brian Miller announced a restructuring of the rowing coaching staffs. For the 2023-24 season, Paul Bugenhagen will serve as the director of rowing and head coach for William Smith rowing.
 
The Colleges will conduct a nation-wide search for a head coach of Hobart rowing.
 
"After considerable reflection and discussions with Paul and Associate Director of Athletics Liz Dennison, who also has an extensive rowing background, we kept landing on the conclusion that this move would be best for both programs and our nearly 60 student-athletes involved," says Miller. "Paul is the perfect person to dedicate 100% of his coaching prowess solely to our Heron rowers, while maintaining a close relationship with the Hobart program he has helped build these past 12 years. I could not be more excited for the future of HWS Rowing."
 

For the past three years, Bugenhagen has served as the head coach for both the Hobart and William Smith rowing teams. He was initially hired at HWS in 2011 as the head coach of Hobart rowing. His tenure at the Colleges is marked by wide-spread success and acclaim.
 
Bugenhagen led Hobart to 10 consecutive Liberty League Championships and guided 10 crews to gold medal-winning performances at the National Invitational Rowing Championships as well as 11 additional podium finishes at the NIRC. He has mentored three U.S. National Team members, 10 Liberty League Crews of the Year, and 42 All-Liberty League selections. In the classroom, Bugenhagen's student-athletes have earned 109 Liberty League All-Academic awards, 36 NIRC All-Academic selections and 10 CRCA Scholar Athletes.
 
Bugenhagen was the 2014 Joy of Sculling Collegiate Coach of the Year, earning three ECAC NIRC Coach of the Year awards and six Liberty League Men's Rowing Coaching Staff of the Year awards.
 
"As the head coach of HWS Rowing I've come to recognize that both teams deserve and need full-time head coaches to accomplish their goals," says Bugenhagen. "The Statesmen are poised to once again win NIRC Championships and accomplish their goal of being a top 15 team in the IRA, and I believe the Herons can not only win Liberty League Championships again, but also NCAA Championships.
 
"This change will allow me to support, coordinate and integrate the operations of both teams in my role as director of HWS rowing while also ensuring each team and individual student-athlete benefits from more focused and consistent interactions with their dedicated head and assistant coaches on and off the water. We have incredible support for rowing at the Colleges including from our administration, alums and parents. We also have an exceptional facility in the Miltenberger Bennett-Hooper Rowing Center, ideal waterways to practice and compete, and updated equipment and fleets. I'm excited for the professional opportunities ahead and for the excellence of our Herons and Statesmen performances to come."
 
William Smith rowing has competed in 13 NCAA Championships, finishing as high as third in the 2002 team standings. The Herons have also captured nine Liberty League Championships. William Smith's most recent conference championship and NCAA appearance was in 2016.