BETHELHEM, Pa. - Head Coach Liz Meltzer has announced the addition of Ryan Ludick to the Mountain Hawks coaching staff. Ludick comes to Lehigh after having served as a boatman for the University of Central Florida’s women’s program. “I’m extremely excited to be a part of the Lehigh University rowing program,” Ludick said. “I am looking forward to the opportunity of working with Coach Meltzer as well as the outstanding student-athletes at this school and to help build on the outstanding tradition that Lehigh has.”
“All of the coaches and student athletes of the Lehigh Crew are excited to welcome Ryan to our program,” explained Meltzer. “I know he will be a big help with many facets of our organization and provide additional support in the areas of coaching, boathouse management and travel coordination for both our athletes and equipment.”
Ludick arrives at Lehigh with a wealth of experience spanning a decade, both as a coach and boatman. He came to Bethlehem following a two-year stint at the University of Central Florida where he was a boatman for the women’s program. Ludick was also in charge of transportation and maintenance of their equipment as well as their rowing facility. Prior to that, Ludick was the freshman men’s coach at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland where he led his crews to a semi-final appearance in the Stotesbury Cup, as well as three gold medals and one silver medal in a variety of races.
From March of 2004 through June of 2005, Ludick worked at the Thompson Boat Center in Washington, D.C. where he was the junior men’s coach and head sculling coach. Ludick’s boats consistently made grand final appearances at the U.S. Rowing Nationals and at the Royal Canadian Henley. In addition to his coaching duties, Ludick implemented an intermediate sculling program to serve as a pipeline to the masters sculling program.
Ludick has also enjoyed coaching stints at Yorktown High School in Virginia, The University of Florida, Bishop Moore High School in Orlando, The Carolina Rowing Foundation in Charlotte, and Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina. In addition to coaching, Ludick worked for Resolute Racing Shells as a southeastern sales and service rep. Ludick earned his bachelors degree from Central Florida.
