As of January 25, 2007.

Student Officers:
Captain: Adam Fish
Vice-captain: Emily Chin
Freshman Captain: Ryan Moore

Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Gene Kininmonth
Varsity Coach: Joseph Richards

Crew Board (present at January meeting)
Jack Schumacher, Chair
Mike Cook
Mike Gray
James Hoffman
Don Ludwig, Director Rec Sports

Rowing Highlights:
The Trojan Navy’s varsity squad is the biggest in number since the program was reformed in 1999 and the Varsity and JV Eight man crews scrimmage each day in practice. The varsity squad scheduled only one weekend of racing in the fall and the limited racing may have proved detrimental to the RESULTS. However, recent outstanding intra-squad performances in January better reflect the squad’s potential and the coaching staff is confident that spring results will be the best seen in decades for the Trojan Navy.


USC Crew at 2006 Henley Royal Regatta with the Right Honorable Robert Hanson and USC alumnus William Creasy.

Tests on the rowing machines at August Try-outs indicate this year’s novice squad is the strongest yet and the coaches are confident this will also reflect in spring racing. While USC does not recruit freshmen with scholarships or relaxed admissions standards, as do UC Berkeley and Washington, this year’s novice men have made it their goal to beat Stanford, Oregon State, Washington State and win a medal at the PAC-10 championships. USC finished fourth in the freshman eight at PAC-10s in 2006.

Fundraising:
The Crew Board conducted two fundraising initiatives in the first half of the year. Beginning in the summer the Board led a special campaign to raise $50,000 to install a new dock and ramp at the USC Boathouse in the Port of Los Angeles. The new dock was needed to avoid overcrowding issues with the women’s rowing team. These funds were quickly raised. The Crew Board then held a year-end campaign, sending out marketing brochures and a Trojan Navy newsletter. Past donors received this newsletter in color. A $100,000 Challenge Grant from a USC alumnus, who wished to remain anonymous, boosted the year-end campaign and Crew Treasurer William Morris ’07 was delighted to report to the Board that this challenge was successfully met by December 31. As of the Crew Board meeting on January 24, funds from alumni support and student dues amounted to $267,000 from 160 individual gifts. This figure compares to $135,000 raised as of the same last year. Board member Jim Hoffman noted that the program raised an additional $65,000 between January and April 1 last year and was optimistic that this figure could be exceeded this year, which would bring the year’s total annual giving to $330,000. Captain Adam Fish advised the Board that the students would again hold an ergathon in the spring, which reaped over $10,000 last season.

Staff Issues:
Acknowledging the Crew’s strong balance sheet and track record of successful fund raising, the University offered full university fringe benefits to the Head Coach in December.

Financials:
$ 18,963 2005-06 Carry-forward
$267,099 YTD Revenue (gifts, dues, etc)
$286,062

Budget:
As a club sport Men’s Crew does not receive University funding and must restrict spending to funds raised from student dues and alumni/parent support. The Crew has run a minimal net surplus in each of the last five years in the range of $10,000 to $20,000. Budgets have steadily grown each year with increased fundraising success. Recognizing that past fundraising does not guarantee future success, the Crew Board does not adhere to a strict budget but rather establishes spending priorities based on current and seasonal needs as funds permit.

Leading priorities include equipment maintenance, uniforms, coaches’ salaries, local travel for competition and communications (website/newsletter/marketing pieces). Decisions regarding new equipment purchases (such as boats) or overseas travel are made when donors of large gifts designate funds for such purpose.

RecSports Director Don Ludwig confirmed to the Crew Board at the January meeting that the Head Coach’s annual salary must now be in place on June 30th prior to the fiscal year for the University to offer fringe benefits to the coach. The Board agreed to incorporate a “$75,000 Reserve” as a line item to the budget and cash flow statements to ensure these funds are available to be encumbered. Chairman Jack Schumacher thanked Mr. Ludwig for his support of the coaching position upgrade.

Boathouse Report:
Coach Kininmonth led the project to acquire and install a new dock and ramp at the boathouse. After much deliberation a local business in the port was contracted to bring in a barge with a pile driver, crane and a used ramp. A 65’ pile was driven into the ground to keep the new dock in place and the crane was used to install the ramp. The project was initially delayed with the new plastic float being held up at the Canadian border for reasons unknown. The float, manufactured by Jetfloat Inc, matches the existing dock and comes in cubes that are assembled like Legos. The rowers assembled the dock in about ten hours.

The Athletic Department reports it continues its discussions with the Port of Los Angeles for a new boathouse in the Port of Los Angeles. The new boathouse is expected to house both the men’s and women’s fleet.

Equipment Purchases:
New equipment purchases had been placed on hold since April 2006 when the Trojan Fleet was moved from Marina del Rey to the Port of Los Angeles due to costs associated with the move. Associated costs included the purchase and installation of the dock, ramp and outdoor racks for the shells. With these issues addressed, the program recently ordered a new 32’ wakeless launch for VIP spectators to watch rowing events in the Port. The launch will comfortably seat nine passengers and driver. Other recent purchases include 7 ergometers and a used set of oars from the women’s crew to accommodate the larger squad this year.

Coaching staff raised the need for three new 2-man shells ($10,000 each) for training purposes at the January Crew Board meeting. The program currently has one such shell and three more would allow the varsity crew to break up into small boats to race each other. The Board determined that should the students successfully raise $10,000 from the spring ergathon then the Friends of USC Men’s Crew gift account could fund the balance of $20,000.

PAC-10 News:
The PAC-10 Conference now requires varsity rowing programs in the PAC-10 conference (Washington, Stanford, Oregon State and UC Berkeley) to adhere to all NCAA rules that apply to Women’s Rowing, with the exception that Men’s programs will still be permitted to travel overseas to race at the Henley Royal Regatta each year. Women’s programs are only permitted to travel overseas once every four years. The PAC-10 does not apply NCAA rules to club programs (USC, Washington St, UCLA, Oregon and Arizona St). Club rowers are simply limited to four years of racing within a five-year period.