Impressively tall in his Canadian Henle polo shirt and loafers, newly appointed Head Women’s Crew Coach Glenn Putyrae looks every inch the rower. Calm and collected even as he spoke for the first time with what he referred to as “the Georgetown press,” a take-it-as-it-comes attitude seems to be helping Putyrae navigate his first days on the Hilltop.
Replacing Jimmy King as the head of the women’s varsity rowing squads, Putyrae, along with varsity lightweight coach Jim O’Connor, hopes to turn the struggling program around with “a new perspective.”
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Joining Putyrae as assistant coach is Heather Barney, who spent the last two years as the women’s novice coach at Williams College.
Putyrae was previously the Head Women’s Rowing coach at Gonzaga University, a position he held from 1999 until this past year. During his tenure, the team won six West Coast Conference Championships. Though such a past may inspire some to lofty goals, Putyrae is hesitant to say what lies ahead for Georgetown women’s crew just yet.
“We’re still trying to determine the goals,” he said. “But it’s clear the lightweights want to win a National Championship.”
Putyrae appeared less certain of what may be in store for the heavyweight team, though a recruiting class of eight freshmen may indicate potential growth for a program with a history of high turnover.
Senior captain Christen Scanlon seemed optimistic about the fresh crop of novices, brushing off the suggestion that so much young blood might create an intensely competitive atmosphere.
“The older rowers are excited to have them help us get faster,” she said.
Though he has had few opportunities to meet with the team thus far—he says they have been out on the Potomac only once—Putyrae speaks with cautious optimism about the future.
“There’s a great deal of enthusiasm about starting over,” he said. Apologizing for his cliché-laden lingo, Putyrae said that for lack of a better characterization, the team is working on “trying to move things forward.”
In the spirit of change that is swirling around the boathouse, the crew program has instituted a new practice structure for the women’s teams. Unlike past seasons, the lightweight and heavyweight squads have begun practicing together. Despite having only a few practices under their belt with the new coaching staff, Scanlon says that she and the girls on the team can “already see improvements in our rowing thanks to them.”
When asked about recruiting freshmen walk-ons for the team, Putyrae said that his goal is to “create a buzz about the rowing team,” though he admitted “I’m not necessarily sure what the perception of the rowers is here.”
True to Welcome Week tradition, the crew program was out in full force on Copley Lawn, eyeing vertically blessed Hoyas and stirring up interest in the team. Putyrae said that around 55 freshmen showed up for an information session last Thursday and 30 have been down to the boathouse to try their hand at rowing. Though he is not the primary coach for novice rowers, Putyrae said that he wants to have as much interaction with the new team members as he can.
The team will put its skills and its new coach to the test on September 30th at the Head of the Potomac, where Putyrae hopes to race four boats of lightweights and heavyweights.
Putyrae’s enthusiasm for coaching women’s teams may help him through his transition period at Georgetown. Though he worked with male squads in the past, Putyrae said “the desire to succeed is almost innate” in female athletes.
All the Hoyas have to do is let nature take its course.
