Wellesley Crew Head Coach Tessa Spillane Named NIRC Women's Coach of the Year
WORCESTER, Mass. – The National Intercollegiate Rowing Championship (NIRC) announced the recipients of the regatta's postseason awards and Wellesley College's Tessa Spillane was voted the Women's Coach of the Year.
Spillane, who earned her second straight NIRC Coach of the Year honor, led Wellesley's varsity eight to its first victory in program history at the 2023 NIRC Championship. The second varsity eight raced to a fourth-place finish, while the third varsity eight came in fifth overall. Following the varsity eight's victory at the NIRC, Blue crew went on to capture the NCAA national championship in its next competition.
"It is a true honor coaching alongside some of the very best coaches in this sport. As a league, the NIRC is so incredibly strong and as a program, we take a lot of pride in being able to race every year at the National Invitational. In accepting this award, I would like to accept it on behalf of our incredible coaching staff at Wellesley - Associate Head Coach Emilie Muller, Assistant Coach Emilia Ball, Strength Coach Tim Snyder all are tremendous resources for our student-athletes," expressed Spillane. "We are lucky coaches to be able to work with such an exceptional team at Wellesley - so as is our tradition at Wellesley; Blue Crew, giving all of you a shout out for your amazing work ethic, team first attitude, and for taking care of the details - and each other - every single day."
Williams College head coach, Marc Mandel was named the NIRC Men's Coach of the Year by his peers. Mandel earned his second straight Coach of the Year title after guiding Williams to its second consecutive NIRC men's title in 2023. The Ephs rowed to wins in the first, second, and third varsity eight categories, while the fourth varsity claimed third.