Helen Samaniego

Former Virginia standout Helen (Tompkins) Samaniego returned to Grounds as an assistant rowing coach in July of 2024.

Samaniego, who competed at Virginia from 2006-10, arrives in Charlottesville after serving as an assistant coach this past season at NCAA champion Texas and the previous two seasons under Ng at the University of Pennsylvania. She helped the Quakers to the first two full-team appearances at the NCAA Championships in program history. In 2023, Penn finished sixth overall at the national regatta, a program-best result, after placing 11th in 2022.

A native of Friendswood, Texas, the former Helen Tompkins graduated from the UVA with a double major in foreign affairs and studio art. As a senior in 2010, Samaniego rowed in the Varsity Eight to help the Cavaliers capture the first NCAA team championship in program history. That year, she was named a CRCA Second-Team All-American and All-ACC first-team selection after helping the Varsity Eight place second in the national regatta grand final and was a part of the boat the earned ACC Crew of the Year honors.

Prior to her time at Penn, Samaniego spent three years as an assistant coach at Lower Merion High School while also serving time as the women’s head coach at the Conshohocken Rowing Center and the master’s rowing coach with the Vesper Boat Club.

Samaniego competed as an elite rower for 11 years, twice earning selection to the USRowing senior national team and three times as a member of the U23 national team. She retired from competitive rowing following the 2021 Olympic Trials. She won silver in the women’s lightweight quad at the 2013 World Rowing Championships and placed fourth in the single sculls at the 2012 USRowing Olympic Trials.