Lions Nab Crew Coach Alwin From Princeton

Columbia has hired Scott Alwin as the new head coach of the men’s lightweight rowing team, replacing the recently resigned Marc DeRose. DeRose has since moved on to become a representative for Vespoli, a rowing shell manufacturer.

Alwin comes to Columbia after spending three seasons at Princeton, the final two of which as the head coach for the freshman men’s squad. During his three seasons with the Tigers, Alwin helped lead the team to gold at Eastern Sprints in 2006 and silver medals in 2005 and 2007.

“Scott brings excellent experience and a record of success,” Mike Zimmer, Columbia’s director of rowing, said in a statement. “His crews at Princeton were quite sharp and finished in the medals all three years he was there. I am confident our lightweight program is in good hands, and I look forward to working with him.”

Prior to working at Princeton, Alwin was an assistant at Wisconsin for one season on the varsity heavyweight team and for one season at the helm of the freshman heavyweights. During his two seasons there, his teams won six medals, including three golds and three silvers. While at Wisconsin as an undergraduate, Alwin went undefeated in his varsity races, winning a gold medal in 1999 at the IRA Regatta and in 2001 at the Eastern Sprints.