Historic Racing Results

1881: Rowing team formed. Co-ed organization rowed primarily on small lake in Echo Park.

1947: While reading Law at the University of Southern California, former UCLA oarsman, Julian Wolf, forms “USC Men’s Crew,” a recognized USC 2nd tier varsity sport. Team rows with used shells, gifts from the University of California at Berkeley and oars left over from the 1932 Olympic Games.

1948: Former UCLA coach/coxswain Bob Hillen recruited to coach USC.

1953: USC begins record 23 consecutive victories over UCLA that stretched for eight years.

1956: USC defeats the three-time Olympic champion Cal Bears varsity crew on Ballona Creek in Marina del Rey. Trojan Crew alumni win gold at 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne.

1960: USC breaks the Olympic Games course record in Long Beach. Trojan Crew alumni win bronze at 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

1964: Trojan Crew alumni win gold at 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

1975: USC wins its first and only IRA National championship in the coxed pairs event.

1994: USC breaks 33-year drought in varsity eight race against UCLA. Trojans defeat Bruins by record margin of 16 seconds. Athletic Department officials, citing Title IX and budget constraints, cut Men’s Crew that same year.

1995: Crew attempts to continue as a student club but fails to receive needed alumni support and men’s rowing program is disbanded. .



1999: Men’s Crew reformed as student organization by business entrepreneur student Chris Wilkinson. Enters local collegiate novice events.

2002: USC hires Coach Gene Kininmonth. Program enters first varsity eight event in eight years and defeats UCLA. Begins string of 11 straight victories over Bruins’ varsity crew.

2003: USC finals in Varsity Eight event at San Diego Crew Classic and PAC-10 Championships. Novice four wins silver medal at IRA National Championships.

2004: USC wins bronze medal in Varsity Four event at PAC-10 Championships. Trojans finish in Top 10 in Novice Four and Varsity Four events at IRA National Championships. USC four-oared crew races in Visitors Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. In the Fall, USC wins 2004 National Collegiate Club Championships and Newport Autumn Rowing Festival.

2005: USC finals in Varsity Eight event at San Diego Crew Classic. Falls to Tara Boat Club, representing the Irish Lightweight national team, in first round of the Ladies Plate at Henley Royal Regatta. In the Fall, USC wins 2005 National Collegiate Club Championships.

2006: USC wins bronze medal at San Diego Crew Classic and wins Hillen Cup from UCLA. USC falls to Harvard University in historic first-time encounter in the Ladies Plate event at Henley Royal Regatta. Crew program loses lease at LMU Boathouse in Marina del Rey and program returns to USC Boathouse in Port of Los Angeles where equipment is stored outside.

2007: USC wins bronze medal in Varsity Fours event at PAC-10 Championship. In the Fall, USC wins 2007 National Collegiate Club Championships.

2008: USC wins the Men's Open at the San Diego Crew Classic.