June 10, 2002

The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association named Duke University head coach Robyn Horner the South Region Coach of the Year today. In her fourth year at the helm of the Blue Devil program, Horner guided Duke to an outstanding year including a second place finish at the ACC Championships.

Under Horner's guidance this season, the Blue Devil varsity eight claimed the school's first ever national ranking and the Cal Cup at the San Diego Crew Classic. Other season highlights included a third consecutive team points title at the Head of the Chattahoochee Regatta and a sixth place finish for the varsity eight in the Grand Final at the Lexus South/Central Sprints.

The Regional Coach of the Year award is intended to recognize a coach who has experienced outstanding success during the season, demonstrated great team improvement from the prior season, fulfilled their team's potential and/or demonstrated a high level of professionalism and integrity as a coach.

Other 2002 Regional Coaches of the Year include Andy Teitelbaum (Ohio State) in the Central Region, Melanie Onufrieff (Cornell) in the Mid-Atlantic Region, Will Porter (Yale) and John Murphy (Brown) in the New England Region and Tammy Crawford (Washington State) in the West Region.

The Division I National Coach of the Year will be announced at a later date.