Sauer Adds King and Mork to Rowing Staff
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Caroline King has been named assistant coach and Jeff Mork has been named director of boathouse and program operations, Virginia head coach Kevin Sauer announced Thursday (July 26). King and Mork arrive in Charlottesville after spending the last four seasons at Clemson.
“We are very fortunate to be able to hire a combination of Caroline King as assistant rowing coach and Jeff Mork as director of boathouse and program operations,” Sauer said. “Caroline has over 20 years of Division I collegiate coaching experience, including a very impactful experience at the University of Texas with novice squads and more recently, recruiting coordination and lead assistant coach at Clemson.
“Jeff has probably the most experience of anyone in the country as a rower (with international experience), coach, regatta director, boatman and color commentator. I have known them both for 20 years and admired their work from afar and up close over those years.”
King served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Clemson and worked primarily with the second varsity eight, which was regionally ranked last season. King also coached the Varsity Four to three top-10 finishes at the Head of the Charles in the Club Women’s Four from 2014-16.
Prior to her appointment at Clemson, King spent 16 years at the University of Texas helping build the program from the club level to a nationally-ranked program. King took over the Longhorns’ novice squad in 2001 and was promoted to first assistant coach in 2003. King’s novice boats helped Texas win the Big 12 Invitational team championship from 2001-08 and four Big 12 team titles from 2009-12 once the sport was fully sponsored at the conference level.
During King’s tenure, Texas was selected as an at-large eight for the 2003 and 2004 NCAA Championships. King advanced three novices to become the program’s first three CRCA All-Americans and also saw three walk-ons selected to the USRowing Senior National Team. King was selected as the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association’s South Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2011.
King raced with the 1996 and 1997 U.S. Rowing Association’s lightweight women’s development camp at Riverside Boat Club. She rowed for the University of Florida club team from 1993-96, earning captain and most valuable rower honors in 1995. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in African studies from Florida in 1996.
“I would like to thank head coach Kevin Sauer for extending this incredible opportunity to join the Virginia rowing family,” King said. “He is known as the best coach in the Unites States for teaching elite student-athletes how to find their next highest level of performance on the water, in the classroom and in life. With multiple ACC and NCAA championship trophies, and Olympic and World Championship rosters across the globe marked by UVA rowers, the mission at UVA Rowing is stronger than ever. I cannot wait to get on Grounds to work with this outstanding team.”
Mork spent the last four years as director of operations and rigger for Clemson Rowing. Mork served as regatta director for the ACC Championships and the Clemson Invitational.
Prior to Clemson, Mork was the head coach for the University of Texas club team for 10 years from 1998-2008. He was also the rigger for the Texas women’s rowing program for over 10 years during two stretches under former Texas head coach Carie Graves.
Mork earned his bachelor’s degree in art studio and film studies at UC Santa Barbara in 1993. He was a four-time Western Sprints lightweight eight champion while with the Gauchos.
Following graduation, Mork lived in Boston and rowed for Riverside Boat Club, Boston Rowing Center and later represented the United States in the lightweight eight at the 1997 World Championships.
“Legendary is not too strong a term to describe the grit and power of Virginia Rowing and head coach Kevin Sauer,” Mork said. “I look forward to working with this outstanding staff and these incredible student-athletes as we represent the University at the highest levels of performance and integrity. Go Hoos!”
King and Mork are married and have two daughters.