Katie Thurstin has been named as men’s and women’s rowing head coach at Stetson, Senior Associate Athletic Director Alicia Queally announced Wednesday, July 5.

Thurstin comes to the Hatters after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Thurstin also spent one year as the head coach at the University of Denver.

“We are very excited to have Katie Thurstin join the Hatter family as the new head coach for rowing at Stetson,” Queally said. “We had outstanding candidates for the position, and Katie stood out in several areas that are important to us as a program. She has worked with both men’s and women’s rowers in the past and has tremendous organizational skills and a sense of calm about her that will be a great asset to both programs.

“As our rowing program continues to evolve, her previous work in an athletic department with both a strong vision and mission will prove advantageous here at Stetson. Her high energy and attention to detail will serve both Stetson and the surrounding community well.”

Thurstin has been an assistant coach and head novice coach for the Bulldogs since 2013.

“I’m really excited to be joining the staff here at Stetson,” Thurstin said. “There’s a lot of good energy and enthusiasm in the athletic department, especially around the rowing program. I’m excited to be a part of the future of Stetson athletics. I was really appreciative of Stetson’s athletics mission statement and vision statement. I believe that sport is more than just a game; it’s a great platform to teach character, resiliency, drive, and to help create great leaders. Being able to be a part of that vision is what I was looking for when I began exploring a head coach position.”

A 2003 graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Global Studies, Thurstin began rowing competitively during her junior year. Upon graduation, Thurstin spent four years as a Policy Associate with the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver before eventually returning to her rowing roots.

Thurstin joined the Rocky Mountain Rowing Club in Denver in 2004, where she served as the head coach for the Master’s Competitive and Recreational programs and as a private instructor. During her time with RMRC, she was also a lessons director and a competitor.

From there she moved on to the University of Denver where she started the school’s first club rowing team.

She left Denver in 2013 for Drake where, in addition to her duties with the Bulldogs, she also served as the head coach of the Des Moines Rowing Club for two years.

-GoHatters.com