Bob Ernst
- One of the longest tenured employees and coaches in UW history, Ernst served as head coach of both the men’s (1987-2007) and women’s (1980-87 and again 2007-15) rowing teams, having begun his Husky career as the men’s team freshman coach in 1974.
- Led the Washington women to the national championship six times in seven years in the 1980s, winning the title in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1987.
- As head men’s coach, led the Huskies to the IRA National Championship in 1997 and 1999.
- Named Pac-10 Women’s Coach of the Year in 1987 (the first year that the Pac-10 sponsored women’s sports) and Pac-10 Men’s Coach of the Year 10 times (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2004 and 2007).
- Has already been inducted to the UC Irvine (his alma mater) athletic hall of fame, the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Hall of Fame, and the National Rowing Foundation Hall of Fame (1994).
- One of the most influential voices in the creation and success of the annual Windermere Cup and Opening Day Regatta, one of the world’s best-attended annual rowing events.
- Had extensive involvement with the U.S. National Teams – men and women – serving as a U.S. coach on the 1976, 1980, 1984 and 1988 Olympic Teams. He coached the U.S. women’s eight to the gold medal at the 1984 Games, the first women’s rowing medal in the nation’s history. Ernst also coached dozens of men and women who went on to row at the Olympics.
- The Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sports Star of the Year in 1982.
- As a student, won a junior college football national championship at Orange Coast College, before going on to play water polo and swim at UC Irvine, where he began his career as a rowing coach.
Rowing Coach
(1974–2015)