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Horner Retires as Duke Rowing Coach
5/28/2015 10:00:00 AM | Rowing
DURHAM, N.C. — Duke University Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Kevin White announced the retirement of rowing head coach Robyn Horner on Thursday. Horner has served as the only head rowing coach in the 17-year history of the Blue Devil program.
“I am so thankful to Duke and Duke Athletics for the incredible experiences I've had during my 17 years of coaching,” Horner said. “Duke is a special place and I will miss all the amazing people that make up Duke Athletics. Go Duke!”
“To be sure, we are incredibly grateful for Robyn's hard work and dedication to Duke University – and specifically Duke Athletics – over the past 17 years,” White said. “With Robyn's guidance and leadership, the Duke rowing program went from conception to the national landscape, and we couldn't be more appreciative of her commitment to the overall experience of our student-athletes. We wish Robyn all the best in her retirement from coaching.”
Horner, who started the program in 1998, led the Blue Devils to 12 top-three finishes at the Atlantic Coast Conference championship meet. In addition, she coached six All-America selections, guided 21 student-athletes to All-ACC honors and mentored one NCAA Woman of the Year finalist.
Academically, Duke's rowing program registered a perfect 1000 score in the most recent multi-year (2010-14) Academic Progress Report (APR) data released by the NCAA.
Horner was twice named ACC Coach of the Year, in 2006, when she led the program to a second place finish at the ACC Championships, and 2002, when she also received South Region Coach of the Year honors after the Blue Devils were ranked among the nation's top-20 throughout the entire season.
Horner was a nationally competitive lightweight following her collegiate career at Minnesota. She earned a berth on the U.S. National Lightweight team and competed in the World University Games. Her personal sweep and sculling honors and awards include: four U.S. Elite National Championships and numerous Royal Canadian Henley, Head of the Charles and Olympic Festival medal.
A national search for Horner's replacement will begin immediately.
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