Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh names Brian Conley Head Rowing Coach
8/11/2010 4:36:00 PM | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing
Brian Conley
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following a lengthy and thorough national search, Lehigh University has named Brian Conley as the Steven J. '69 and Karen A. Lee Head Rowing Coach. Conley spent the last four seasons as an assistant varsity coach, recruiting coordinator and the head freshman coach for the lightweight crew at Dartmouth College. He will be responsible for the oversight of Lehigh's women's and men's rowing programs and will coach the women's varsity boats.
“I am very excited to be a part of such a great institution and community at Lehigh,” said Conley. “When I set foot on campus, I knew this was a place where I wanted to be and a place where I wanted to teach the sport of rowing. Lehigh has the ability to be successful at the highest level of rowing and I am extremely honored to be given this opportunity to lead the Lehigh program in that direction.”
In four years at Dartmouth, Conley assisted varsity crews at the Ivy League Championships and the Eastern Sprints Championships. In three of his four seasons, Conley's first freshmen eights reached the grand finals at the Eastern Sprints.
While assisting at Dartmouth, Conley also served as head coach for the competitive women's rowing program at the Upper Valley Rowing Club in New Hampshire. His crews posted four top-ten finishes at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta.
“Brian presented the background, personal and leadership qualities that fit best for our rowing program at this time,” explained Lehigh Goodman Dean of Athletics Joe Sterrett. “He is very strong technically, and fully understands and embraces the 'student-athlete' concept that we at Lehigh uphold. We are pleased that he is excited to become our next coach.”
Conley added, “After meeting Dr. Sterrett, I saw the level of dedication he gives to the University, department and the program, I knew that this was where success could happen, which made this decision very easy. We do have a lot of work to do and I am looking forward to getting started with the first stroke on the water.”
Prior to his stint at Dartmouth, Conley, a Philadelphia area native, served as the head rowing coach for the men's and women's programs at Lower Merion High School. In just three years Conley turned a program that lost every race to one that medaled in major championships including gold and bronze medals at the 2006 Scholastic National Championships.
Conley also enjoyed an impressive competitive career on the water. After a standout career at Saint Joseph's Preparatory School, Conley attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a four-year oarsman including three years on the first varsity eight. Conley served as team captain as a senior and was named the Quakers' Most Valuable Oarsman.
On the club circuit, Conley rowed for four years in the Penn Athletic Club elite program, where he won ten medals in the U.S. Rowing National Championships including a pair of Gold medals.
Conley earned his bachelor's degree in American history from Penn in 2002.
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