Three-time Olympian Michiel Bartman Will Head St. Joe’s Men’s Rowing

By Katie Lane

After spending three years as the head coach of Jefferson University women’s rowing, Michiel Bartman—recently named  coach of the year in the East Region by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association—will remain in Philadelphia, moving upstream to Saint Joseph’s University to become director of rowing and head coach of men’s rowing.

“I’m excited to start a new chapter at SJU,” Bartman said. “Mike Irwin did a fantastic job with the team, culminating with a seventh-place finish in the men’s varsity four at the IRAs earlier this year.”

Bartman replaces former head coach Mike Irwin, who was hired as an assistant coach of the heavyweight men’s team at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Bartman aims to further the success of the program, he said, by qualifying more of the team for IRAs and taking advantage of the newly allotted qualifying spots at the Dad Vail Regatta.

“SJU’s boathouse and campus facilities are top-notch,” he said, “and the Schuylkill River remains one of the best spots to row and coach in the U.S.”

As an athlete, Bartman represented The Netherlands in three Olympic Games, winning gold in the men’s eight in 1996 (Atlanta), silver in the men’s quadruple sculls in 2000 (Sydney), and silver in the men’s eight in 2004 (Athens). He also captured medals at three separate world championships and from 2002 to 2004 served as chairman of the Dutch National Olympic Athletes Committee.

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