Robert Weber appointed chief coach of Cambridge University Women's Boat Club and Lightweight Rowing Club
Dual Light Blues role
Robert Weber will spearhead Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club and Lightweight Rowing Club’s bid for Boat Race glory after being appointed their new chief coach.
The American has come in to oversee the programme, and brings considerable experience of coaching in both an academic and international environment.
Weber joins from Hamilton College, New York, where he has been head rowing coach and associate professor of physical education for the past four years.
He has combined that for the last five years with a role in the US Rowing national team as assistant coach to the women’s senior and under-23 team.
“I’m excited to continue to work with both men and women in a high performance environment with the highly-motivated scholar athletes at Cambridge,” said Weber.
“I’m also eager to worth with assistant coaches Paddy Ryan and Astrid Cohnen to help lead both the women and lightweights to continued success and even higher levels of performance.”
It is a new merged role, combining the women and lightweights chief coach position for the first time, with Weber succeeding Rob Baker, who has become chief coach of Cambridge University Boat Club.
CUWBC executive chair Siobhan Cassidy said: “Robert will take CUWBC and CULRC into the next phase of Boat Race history.
“Robert’s passion for rowing, wealth of experience and clarity of vision really shines through; we know he will inspire the students in the team.”
CULRC vice-chair Bruce Perry said: “I’m delighted to welcome Robert to Cambridge University; his experience in university sport at Hamilton will be invaluable as we strive to continue to be a centre for excellence.
“Robert’s track record of delivering success at the university and national level of sport made him the ideal candidate to lead CULRC and CUWBC.
“Robert will also play a key role in helping to shape the future direction of our organisation.”
Abigail Parker, the CUWBC president, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Robert to our team.
“I can’t wait to be coached by him and see what he will bring to our programme from his various past experiences.
“His input and leadership will build on the solid foundation that we have established this season in our work so far with Paddy and Astrid.
“I am confident that this complete coaching team will be effective in helping each of us to improve as athletes and in building line-ups that will win Boat Races.”
