Indiana University Athletics
Mark Wilson Named Head Coach
3/4/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Mark Wilson Named Head Coach
Mark Wilson, a veteran participant and coach of rowing teams who came within an eyelash of making the U.S. Olympic team, has been named the head coach of Indiana University's new team.
IU officials announced in June of 1997 that women's crew would begin competition in the 2003-04 academic year and eventually have facilities on Lake Lemon, however that time frame was moved up in 1996. With the addition of rowing Indiana will have 23 varsity sports with Women's field hockey to be added next year.
Wilson said he expects the Hoosiers to be competitive during their first season, but added, "I don't expect us to win the Big Ten Championships our first year." He said most of the first IU team will consist of rowers that are presently with the school's club team and freshman who have little or no rowing experience. Wilson said "That's what makes rowing exciting, a new athlete can make a difference in a relative short amount of time."
"I'm very optimistic about Indiana rowing," the 31-year-old coach said. "The U.S. Rowing Association is located in Indianapolis and Indiana does have a fair amount of rowing knowledge. The world championships were held in Indianapolis in 1995 and Missy Schwen the U.S. pair member is from Bloomington, so we have some international experience.
Wilson rowed collegially at Wisconsin, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and as a senior at Northeastern University. After college he joined Thames River Sculls and won numerous races in the U.S. and Canada. He competed for the U.S. in the World University Games in 1993, was the elite gold medallist in the 1992 Nationals and also placed a very close second in the 1992 men's double Olympic Trials. "I missed the Olympics by just a couple of feet, and was close to the Pan Am Games as well," He said.
Wilson has been living in Indiana because he is engaged to Judy Bogenschutz, IU's women's cross-country coach whom he met while she was coaching at the University of Connecticut and he was at the University of Massachusetts.
"Mark is exceptionally qualified and we are delighted he is joining our coaching staff," IU athletic director Clarence Doninger said. "We are excited about women's crew and are confident Mark will lead us to success in the sport."
Wilson explained that college rowing is mostly "sweep" rowing in which there is one oar per person and consists of four and eight-man competition. He added "IU will be competing against Big Ten and other schools in the region the first year. I expect to compete with Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, Louisville, Notre Dame with future trips to Virginia, Tennessee, Massachusetts and the West Coast in the future." Commenting about the rowing facilities Wilson said "The USRA visited Lake Lemon and considers it one of the finest places to row in the Midwest." He added "I agree with them and I know that the lake will be a big plus for the team and I think that this is THE best place to row in the Midwest."
