Emerald of Sigma Pi Fraternity
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Stephen L. Peterson (ΑΥ, Rhode Island ’85) is in his third year as head coach of the Indiana rowing program. Peterson directs the rowing program while working primarily with the women’s varsity. He was named the second rowing head coach in Indiana history on August 11, 2003, replacing former head coach Mark Wilson. “Indiana has all of the necessary tools and potential to succeed. We have great rowing shells and a fantastic lake to row on. On land, we have plenty of ergs, and good weight lifting equipment. We also have a tremendous support staff of strength coaches, athletic trainers, academic counselors and an athletic administration who are excited about our program, and want to help our program to succeed. Couple this with the fact that we are in the Big Ten, one of the strongest rowing conferences in the country, and you have the blueprint to build a powerful rowing program,” said Peterson. At the helm of the Hoosiers, Peterson made an immediate impact on the program. Not only did IU claim its first All-American (Laura Lazaridis) in 2005, the Hoosiers captured their best finish in Big Ten history with a sixth-place effort of 46 points. Additionally, Indiana’s Varsity 8 posted eight head-to-head
triumphs to best the previous record of six set in 2004. Meanwhile, the V8 shell also jumped out to its best start with a 7-0 run. Also of note, the squad created more program history as the V8 earned Big Ten Boat of the Week honors on March 22, 2005 after a first-place finish at the Solid Orange Clemson Challenge in Clemson, South Carolina. Peterson, a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Rowing Team, came to Indiana after serving as the head women’s rowing coach at George Washington University. Under Peterson’s leadership, the GW varsity crew captured two Champion International Collegiate Regatta titles, an Atlantic 10 Championship and a bronze medal at the IRA’s. George Washington’s women’s varsity eight never finished lower than second at the Atlantic 10 Conference championship during this span and also advanced to the 1998 NCAA Championships, finishing the season ranked 15th in the nation. Peterson earned Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year (2000 and 2001). In addition to his George Washington coaching duties which he had held since 1996, Peterson was a United States National Team Coach from 1999