Episode 6: Coach Sara Nevin

1982 University of Washington women’s team. Nevin is front row, third from right.

The 1985 University of Washington W8+. Nevin is second from left.

The 1984 University of Washington W8+. Nevin is third from right.

Nevin in bow seat of the Men's National Team 8+ during a practice in Munich, 1986.

Nevin with pair partner Susan Broome, Nationals in 1987. She says “No we weren't standing on a hill, and yes the boat went straight.”

Nevin in bow, with pair with Eleanor McElvaine, Nationals in Indy, 1988.

Mills College team, Spring 2020. “I think this squad was the most representative of the student body of any I group I coached. Lots of learning done, lots of learning to do.”

Nevin on the shore at Lake Natoma

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Join our Patreon community for early access to episodes, discounts, and more.

---

At a mere 5’6”, Sara Nevin won three varsity 8+ national championships and went undefeated in collegiate competition while at the University of Washington. She’s a three-time Washington Rowing Hall of Famer and two-time U.S. national team member. With 30+ years of coaching high school, masters, and collegiate programs including UC Berkeley, and Mills College, Sara’s a legend.

Sara talks with us about finding her fate while cleaning a hotel room, rowing the pair with Eleanor McElvaine, filling in at bow seat in a men's National Team 8+ practice and whiffing a stroke, women coaching collegiate men's programs, and making the decision to retire in 2020.

We finish up the episode with Best Part of Your Rowing Week calls from:

• Kevin Fuji: rower/coach, Pocock Rowing Center and Pulitzer Prize winning photographer

• Lesley Wright: coxswain/coach, Chinook Performance Racing

• Linda Muri: rower/coach, Upper Valley Rowing and Rocket Science Rowing

• Dave Harvey: head coach women’s crew, Pacific Lutheran University

• Gel Greene: rower, founder of Gel Pads

• Bill Donoho: rower, Western Reserve Rowing Association

• Emma Bennett: head coach, Seize the Oar Foundation

---

BONUS

Sitting down to chat with Coach Sara Nevin was a big deal for Tara, who’s own coaching and life have been set on course by Nevin’s philosophy of the rower life cycle. This audio postcard is Tara’s reflection on how that philosophy has impacted her.

---

Episode 6 Mentions:

Betsy Beard (cox)

Bob Ernst

Bush High School 

Chinook Performance Racing

Conibear Rowing Club

Durham Boat Club

Eleanor McElvaine

Goodwill Games (Moscow) - video

Husky Hall of Fame

Jan Harville

Laurie Dauphiny (Princeton)

Liz O'Leary (Radcliffe)

Mills College

Mt. Baker Rowing & Sailing Center

Pacific Lutheran University rowing

Pocock Rowing Center

Rocket Science Rowing

Sara Lopez

Seize the Oar Foundation

University of Washington Rowing

U.S. National Team

University of New Hampshire Rowing

Upper Valley Rowing

Montlake Cut

Western Reserve Rowing Association

World Rowing Championships

Windermere Cup

Created & Produced by: Rachel Freedman & Tara Morgan
Hosted by: Rachel Freedman & Tara Morgan
Edited by: Tara Morgan
Website & Social Media by: Rachel Freedman