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Amanda Purcell Joins Virginia Rowing Coaching Staff
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CHARLOTTESVILLE – Amanda Purcell, a former All-American at Ohio State and most recently an assistant coach at Brown University, has joined the Virginia women’s rowing program as an assistant coach. Purcell will work with UVa’s novice rowers. Virginia is coming off the program’s first-ever team title at the NCAA Championships.
“I would like to express my gratitude and excitement to be a part of the coaching staff at UVa,” Purcell said. “This is an exhilarating time for the entire program. Coach Sauer has always set a high standard and I cannot wait to get this season off to a great start.”
Purcell spent the last three years as an assistant at Brown, working with the novices and the third varsity squad. At the 2010 Eastern Sprints Championships, the Bears garnered five medals including gold medals in the Third Varsity Four ‘A’, the Third Varsity Four ‘B’ and the Third Varsity Eight. The Second Varsity Eight and Varsity Eight earned a silver and bronze medal, respectively, at the championships.
At the 2010 NCAA Championships, Brown finished fifth in the team standings and was the NCAA Champion in the Second Varsity Eight.
“I am very excited to have Amanda join our staff,” head coach Kevin Sauer said. “She has competed and coached at a very high level and will bring that experience to UVa. She achieved through very hard work and I look forward to her bringing that work ethic to Virginia.”
Prior to her time at Brown, Purcell coached at her alma mater, Ohio State, for two years while training for national level tryouts from 2005-06. As a volunteer novice and Varsity Fours coach, Purcell worked with the Buckeyes’ Varsity Four that finished 10th at the NCAA Championships in 2007. That year, Ohio State finished fourth in the team standings.
Purcell rowed for four years at Ohio State, earning first team All-America and All-Central Region honors from the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA). She was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection from 2003-05.
Purcell also has experience rowing with the Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia and training for the national team.
She graduated from Ohio State in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in music education.