Sept. 8, 2008

LOWELL, MA - Veronika Platzer, who led the University of Virginia rowing team's women's four to the 2004 NCAA Championship, was named the head coach of the UMass Lowell women's rowing program and director of the Bellegarde Boathouse Monday, announced Director of Athletics Dana Skinner.

Platzer comes to the University with an extensive background in rowing. She has spent the last two years at the University of Michigan, which preceded four years at the University of Virginia and stints at the University of Wisconsin and Mercyhurst College.

Additionally, Platzer has been a U.S. Junior National Team coach for the last three years.

"The search committee's goal was to identify the candidate best suited to develop a thriving rowing program and create a vibrant Boathouse environment, and we've done that with Veronika Platzer," said Skinner. "Veronika's extraordinary background as an athlete, her passion for rowing, and her sense of optimism about future possibilities made her the ideal candidate for UMass Lowell."

UMass Lowell's women's rowing program is slated to return to varsity status effective next year, ending a six-year hiatus as a club sport.

In November of 2007, the University received $1 million from the state for improvements to Bellegarde Boathouse. With the grant, Skinner said, reinstating women's crew was a natural progression.

"This is another positive step in the University's efforts to attract high-quality students," Skinner noted. "Elevating women's rowing to NCAA Division II status will provide our students with another exciting varsity sport and enable the University to take full advantage of the Merrimack River and the newly-renovated Bellegarde Boathouse.

"Moreover, having a full-time director at the Boathouse will provide opportunities to expand programming and develop effective partnerships with Lowell High School's highly successful crew program and the members of the Merrimack River Rowing Association," Skinner added.

The Bellegarde Boathouse, located in Lowell Heritage State Park along the Merrimack River, was built in 1982 and includes offices, locker rooms, storage bays for boats and equipment, a training area, and classroom space. The building's condition had deteriorated over the years, particularly from spring flooding, and is currently under renovation.

As an assistant with the Michigan women's program, Platzer served as the recruiting director and the coach of the second varsity eight. Her 2007 and 2008 recruiting classes were billed among the top in the country.

Platzer highlighted her four years at Virginia by leading the Cavaliers varsity women's four to the 2004 NCAA title. She also guided the novice team to Atlantic Coast Conference and South Region championships in 2005 and 2006.

Prior, Platzer was the women's novice lightweight coach at Wisconsin in 2002, which followed a short stint as the men's coach at Mercyhurst College.

"This is a position that requires the rare combination of coaching and recruiting skills and an entrepreneurship component as well," Platzer said. "Anytime there is talk about using a sport for creative outreach, you're singing my tune. I was very impressed at the fact that Dana Skinner and Chancellor Meehan are visionaries of this program, not just for UMass Lowell, but for the community."

Platzer will start her position on Sept. 22.

"What is so exciting is that we have the seeds for a fantastic program," she added. "We have resources that would rival any Division I program and I am looking forward to giving it the identity and direction it needs. I've had the opportunity of working at two of the best rowing schools in the country, and I will be bringing that with me."

Platzer is a 1987 graduate of Grinnell College (B.A., anthropology) where she was a three-time NCAA Division III champion in the discus. She was inducted into the College's Hall of Fame in 1991 and voted the NCAA's Female Track and Field Athlete of the Decade (1980-90).

Last May, Platzer was among five men and women inducted into the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame.

On the advice of a friend, she turned her attention to rowing following graduation and steadily worked her way on to the U.S. National Team. She represented the United States in World Cup races from 1993-97 and well as the 1993 World Championships.

"I wish to extend my personal gratitude to our rowing alumni, current team members, and many other members of local rowing community who provided assistance during the selection process, specifically the individuals who committed many hours to serve on the search committee," Skinner noted. "I am also grateful to our area legislators, whose support has been critical to revitalizing the Boathouse and our plans to re-instate varsity rowing."

Among the UMass Lowell search committee members was 1988 alumnae and former River Hawk rower Shelagh Donohoe, currently the head coach of the University of Rhode Island women's rowing program.

"Shelagh brought extensive knowledge of the sport, as well as the strong familiarity with the history of rowing at UMass Lowell."

Platzer is a native of Colorado Springs, CO.