June 13, 2005

BERKELEY - California head women's rowing coach Dave O'Neill, who guided his crew to the NCAA championship last month, has been named the Division I National Coach of the Year by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association.

Also the 2005 Pac-10 Coach of the Year, O'Neill last received a national honor in 1999 when Independent Rowing News chose him as its coach of the year.

In seven years as Cal's head coach, O'Neill has guided the Golden Bears to the NCAA regatta each season, with his varsity boats winning bronze medals in both 1999 and 2002 prior to this year's championship.

At the 2005 NCAA competition held on Lake Natoma just outside Sacramento, Cal placed fourth in the varsity 4 and second in the second varsity 8. In the varsity 8 race, the Bears overtook Princeton in the final 500 meters, crossing the finish line with a two-second victory. In the final point standings based on results of all three events, Cal totaled 67 points to runner-up Virginia's 63.

2005 CRCA National Coaches of the Year

Division I      Dave O'Neil    California
Division II     John Fuchs     Western Washington
Division III    Marina Traub   Trinity

Phoebe Murphy   Brown