Carter resigns as head rowing coach at Bates
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Andrew Carter |
“Andrew did a great job establishing the rowing programs at Bates and building them into national-caliber teams, and we are grateful for all of his contributions,” said McHugh. “We wish him and his family all the best.”
Bates hopes to name a new coach before the end of the summer.
“It has been a great pleasure to have been a part of bringing Bates’ men’s and women’s rowing programs from the doorstep of varsity status to nationally recognized and respected teams,” said Carter. “I look back on that journey with a great sense of pride and look forward to seeing where the programs go from here.”
Carter became Bates’ head coach in 2000, shortly after rowing was first established as a varsity sport in 2000. Carter led the Bates women’s rowing team to its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III Women’s Rowing Championships in May 2008. The Bobcats finished fifth to follow up a third-place NCAA finish in 2007, when Carter was on sabbatical. Under Carter’s guidance, the Bates men’s team, too, is well established as among the top crews of any division in New England. Among the student-athletes Carter coached at Bates was 2005 graduate Andrew Byrnes, who will compete at the Summer Olympics in Bejing on the Canadian men’s eight.
“Over the years I have coached some pretty special people here at Bates and the relationships I have with so many alumni and families will remain dear to me,” said Carter. “They have supported the program, my family and me at an amazing level and I thank them for that.”
Before coming to Bates, Carter served as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California and head coach at Vassar College. The native Canadian spent two years working at Canada’s National Rowing Center in London, Ontario, under the head women’s coach for the national team.