Stacey Rippetoe Named Head Coach of Boston University

Courtesy of Boston University Sports Information

Boston, Mass. - Stacey Rippetoe, who helped guide the Michigan State women's rowing team to two Big Ten Championships and a program-best sixth-place team points finish at the 2008 NCAA Championships regatta, has been named the head coach at Boston University, Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Mike Lynch announced today.

Rippetoe spent eight years with the Spartans, including the last two as the associate head coach. In this role she served as the novice team's head coach and as the entire program's recruiting coordinator. She also was an assistant coach for six years. MSU qualified to race in the NCAA Championships in seven of the past eight years.

"Stacey possesses all of the traits we desired in our next women's crew head coach," said Lynch. "She is a proven recruiter, understands from experience how to build a winning program, has a dynamic ability to motivate and communicate, engages herself and her team in the community, and will be absolutely relentless in her quest for success. Needless to say, we are proud to welcome Stacey to the Terrier family.

"I would be remiss if I did not formally recognize the effort exhibited during this search process by our women's rowing alumnae, our current student-athletes and Deputy Director of Athletics Drew Marrochello, the sport administrator for women's rowing."

MSU had a banner year for the program in 2008, capturing Big Ten and Central Region team championships en route to tying its best-ever finishes at the NCAA Championship for the varsity fours and eights. The varsity fours placed fifth and the varsity eights finished sixth, while the second varsity took 10th overall and was fourth in the petite final.

The 2007 CRCA Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year, Rippetoe also helped MSU win a Big Ten team championship in 2005. The program has finished as high as sixth nationally in the team points championship twice during her tenure, in 2006 and 2008. Additionally, she led the second varsity four to a Big Ten Championship in 2004.

"I want to thank Mike Lynch, Drew Marrochello and the BU athletic department for providing me this opportunity," Rippetoe said. "While I have aspired to be a head coach for many years, I wanted it to be the right situation. Boston University is the perfect opportunity. I cannot wait to become a part of Terrier Athletics and help an established program -- one with a beautiful facility, rich history and even greater potential -- rise among the nation's best."

"I am excited for Stacey to have this opportunity," said Michigan State head coach Matt Weise. "She is an excellent coach and I am looking forward to seeing her develop the program at Boston University."

Before joining the MSU crew program, Rippetoe spent three years serving as novice coach for the University of Rhode Island women's crew team. At Rhode Island, Rippetoe's duties included recruiting and coaching the beginner rowers, as well as assisting the head coach with the varsity squad.

Rippetoe (pronounced RIP-ah-toe) also gained coaching experience as the associate coach of the Narragansett Boat Club during the summers of 1999 and 2000. She served as head coach of Navesink River Rowing from 1997-1998 as well.
 
In addition to embracing her role with the MSU varsity squad, one of Rippetoe's most notable accomplishments at MSU is the "We Can Row" program that she launched in Lansing, Mich., in 2002.

"We Can Row", which is based on the "Row as One" camp in Boston, teaches breast cancer survivors how to row. The program is also a study to measure the value of exercise in breast cancer survivors. Lansing's chapter of "We Can Row" is home to the Pink Ribbon Crew team.

As part of the program, Rippetoe works with the Pink Ribbon Crew to emphasize goals that are centered on self-image enhancement and team support for women who are making the transition from being patients to being survivors. The focus is on developing a strong and healthy body, becoming an active participant in one's recovery from breast cancer, asserting control over one's body, rediscovering the joy of movement and playing a fundamental part in a mutually empowering recovery team. MSU student-athletes volunteered as coaches for this program.

An Oakhurst, N.J., native, Rippetoe earned her bachelor's degree in biological sciences in 1997 from Rutgers University, where her team finished sixth at the inaugural NCAA Championship. She earned her master's degree in kinesiology, with an emphasis in sports psychology, from Michigan State in 2006.

The Terrier women's rowing program is entering its 36th season, and once again will have its DeWolfe Boathouse serve as the host for the start of the annual Head of the Charles Regatta, to be held Oct. 18-19, 2008.