WASHINGTON – Georgetown University Men's Varsity Lightweight Rowing Coach Matt Madigan was named the Co-Lightweight Coach of the Year by the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association on Wednesday. Nominations for each award were submitted by IRCA member coaches, along with their comments and recommendations, and were then voted on by the IRCA Board of Directors to select a winner.
Madigan and the Hoyas earned the 2022 Rusty Callow Award after a solid spring season culminating with a third-place finish at the IRA National Championships earlier this month. The award is presented each year by the EARC to the crew that, in the previous year, best personified the virtues of "spirit, courage and unity." The Blue & Gray also took third at the Eastern Sprints to close out the season and had a program-best four IRCA All-Americans.
The Hoyas travels to the United Kingdom earlier this week to compete at the Henley Royal Regatta. They won their opening heat on Tuesday by two and a half lengths over Edinburgh "B" before falling to top-seeded Oxford "A" on Wednesday.
"From the first days, we worked on building trust and communication to learn how the system the athletes were driving could mesh with something different than they were used to," said Madigan. "The success we had is a tribute to the team of athletes and coaches coming together. I am grateful for our exceptional tight-knit coaching staff of Joe Federici, Justin DeGaetano, Artym Hayda and player/manager Matt Turner."
Madigan is on his second stint with the Hoyas joining the program this spring. He coached the Blue & Gray from 2012-14 when the lightweights won the Fosburgh and Forster Cups, marking the only cup wins in program history. During his first tenure, the team also boasted top-five finishes at the IRA Championship and the Eastern Sprints.
The graduate of Santa Clara University was a three-year team captain for the Broncos. The former US National Team member competed at the World Championships in both 1997 and 1999 before joining the coaching ranks. In his 19-year career serving as a coach with the US National Team, Madigan has mentored rowers competing at two Olympics, 10 World Championships and three Pan America Games.
Well known in the DC rowing community, Madigan has served as both a head coach at an assistant for 21 years with the Potomac Boat Club. In 2006, the club won its only Marion D. Ventura Trophy as the overall winners at the US National Championships. During his time competing, he also participated in Ironman events.
