April 1, 2010
Coach Bohrer Interview | 2010 National Rowing Hall of Fame Class
BOSTON - A two-time Olympic silver medalist and four-time Head of the Charles Masters champion, second-year Boston University men's crew head coach Thomas Bohrer has been inducted into the National Rowing Hall of Fame. Named U.S. Rowing Athlete of the Year in 1989 and U.S. Olympic team captain in 1992, he guided the Terriers' first varsity and second varsity eight boats to the Eastern Sprints and IRA Grand Finals last year, earning the "University Men's Coach of the Year" award at December's Annual Joy of Sculling Conference.
An induction ceremony was hosted by the National Rowing Foundation in Mystic Seaport, Conn. with a total of 18 honorees included in the class. Bohrer becomes the third associated with Boston University to earn the prestigious honor.
BU Hall of Famer Ted Nash ('54) was inducted in 1965 for winning a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics, while John McKinlay ('59) was tabbed for capturing the silver at the 1956 Olympics.
Bohrer competed for the United States Rowing Team from 1986 to 1994, earning silver medals in the men's coxless fours at two consecutive Olympic Summer Games (Seoul in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992).
Eventually, he moved on to train rowers at the masters, collegiate, novice, youth and national team levels before being named BU's head coach in September of 2008. In his first year at the helm, the Terriers made a splash at the Eastern Sprints and the IRA Championships by sending both varsity eight boats to each of the Grand Finals for the first-time ever in the same year.
During the program-history making season, the varsity eight boat upset then-No. 2 Brown during the Michalson Cup race for their first win against the Bears since 1987. The Terriers later made a last-minute charge in the semifinals of the IRAs to overtake fourth-ranked Wisconsin and reach the Grand Final for the first time since 2005. With the second varsity eight boat also reaching its respective Grand Final race at the IRAs, BU received the Clayton Chapman Award for the most improved team in the country.
Opening the 2010 spring season at the San Diego Crew Classic last weekend, the Terriers are currently ranked sixth and will next face No. 8 Northeastern on Saturday, April 10, at the DeWolfe Boathouse.
