The UL Coaching Team
Chief Coach: Andy Medcalf
Andy started his coaching career at ULBC in the 1980's, taking crews to the U23 World Championships and the final of Lucerne, the latter forming the basis for the GB eight at the Senior World Championships of that year.
In 1986 Andy emigrated to the US, coaching at the University of Rochester, Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia and then the University of Pennsylvania. Over his ten years with the University he won the Eastern Sprints three times and medalled on numerous other occasions. He also won the IRA regatta, US National Championship and returned to the UK to win the Thames Cup at Henley. Alongside this club level success a number of the rowers training with him gained international selection with several winning medals including; Janucz Hooker who won an Olympic bronze in the Australian quad in Atlanta and; Garrett Miller who was world champion in the US eight in 1997, 1998 and 1999, all whilst still an undergraduate.
In 2002 he joined Penn A. C. where he coached his son Sean from his first stroke to represent the US in the single sculls at the Junior World Championships. Andy was then appointed elite coach at the club, the top rowing club in North America. In each of the three years in charge he got either individuals or complete crews selected for the Senior World Championships. This international success included taking Ivan Baldytchev from novice lightweight sculler in September 2006 to the final at the Senior World Championships eleven months later and getting Micah Boyd selected for the US Olympic team - he went on to win a bronze medal in the US eight in Beijing. Penn A.C. also maintained their record of the top North American club while he was there - winning at the US nationals and Canadian Henley.
Andy's coaching approach is underpinned by a scientific approach to training based on physiological principles,including regular analysis of lactate to measure training progress and ensure appropriate training intensities. His technical and scientific approach have allowed him to successfully manage rowers that included Olympic medallists, current and former world championship athletes and some phenomenally talented athletes of the future - and deliver domestic and international success.
Andy is the chief coach for ULBC, having oversight of both the men's and women's programmes. His focus on the water is predominantly coaching the ULBC women's squad.
Men's Coach: Brian Young
Brian's rowing career began in Cork and took him through the ranks of rowing from domestic success, through the Home International and a win at Henley Royal Regatta to the Under 23 World Championships and finally as a lightweight at the Senior World Championships.
His coaching career has included a stint at the Irish National Coaching and Training Centre, followed by Latymer School where he helped to turn it into one of the top rowing schools in the country. This was crowned in 2008 when he took a pair to the Junior World Championships.
Brian is a great believer in "System" and "Ethos". The job of a coach is to bring an athlete from novice to Olympian but the system is being able to repeat this over and over again. The ethos of the club is around commitment, honesty and success. Brian's coaching approach is underpinned by his degree in Sports Science. Brian is responsible for delivery of the men's programme at ULBC and his focus on and off the water is predominantly coaching the ULBC men's squad
Plus an experienced Team of unpaid volunteers
 Rusty Williams. |
 Pat Wright |
 David Townsend |
Rusty Williams is the "father" of UL. A member of the Grand winning '63 crew, he was unpaid Chief Coach for many years. Among his many successes, he has coached 10 Henley winning crews and seven senior World Championsip crews including two bronze medalists. In the under-23 Championships, he coached two gold medal eights and two silvers medal fours.
Pat Wright was a member of the UL 1968 Grand winning crew which went on to the Mexico Olympics - the last time a single-club eight represented GB. He has coached at UL on an occasional basis for many years, but now he has retired from dentistry he is finding more time to pass on his expertise and enthusiasm.
David Towsend won the Ladies Plate and the Prince Philip for UL at Henley in 1975. He went on to win an Olympic and two World Championship bronze medals. Now retired, he plays a key role in the management of the boathouse and as a volunteer coach.