July 22, 2004

San Diego, Cali. - Joan O'Hara has been selected Head Women's Rowing Coach at the University of San Diego, it was announced today by Jo-Ann Nester, Director of Athletics. O'Hara, the head coach at Wellesley College in Boston, Massachussetts the past four years, will begin her duties at USD on August 16th, 2004.

"I am very pleased that Joan has accepted the head women's rowing coach position here at USD," said Jo-Ann Nester, Director of Athletics. "She brings the experience and enthusiasm we were looking for and I am confident that she will do an excellent job leading our program. Joan is an outstanding addition to our coaching staff and I look forward to working with her."

Her four years at Wellesley was highlighted by the 2002-03 team earning bids to the ECAC Championship as well as the NCAA Division III National Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana. During that season Wellesley's Varsity Eight boat achieved a number one ranking in the U.S. Rowing/Collegiate Coaches Rowing Association Division III Varsity Eight Poll. In her first season at the helm, O'Hara guided Wellesley to the Varsity Eights Grand Final at the New England Championships for the first time since 1994. This past season her Varsity Eight team was ranked 10th in the United States.

Much of Wellesley's success was due to O'Hara's background in training rowers both on and off the water. Her coaching philosophy evolved around the idea that rowing is a combination of superior fitness, technical excellence and mental preparedness.

O'Hara, a former United States National Rowing Champion, came to Wellesley in the fall of 2000 from the ZLAC Rowing Club in San Diego, California, where she coached from 1998-2000. She led ZLAC to a third-place finish at the Head of the Charles in 1999. She then guided ZLAC to a second-place finish at the Masters Nationals.

As an athlete, the Long Island native trained at the United States Olympic Training Center in San Diego under National Team head coach, Hartmut Buschbacher. During that time, she earned the title of Elite National Champion in both the lightweight single and lightweight quad, while winning the lightweight eight event at the Head of the Charles with the fastest time in race history since 1997. O'Hara also trained with the U.S. National Team at the Training Center in Chattanooga, TN, during which time she captured first place in six sweep and sculling events at the American Rowing Championships in 1995 and 1996.

Additionally, she has held the position of Assistant Professor/Athletics Administrator in the Department of Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics at Wellesley College. She holds a bachelor's degree from Loyola College in Baltimore, where she began her rowing career and was captain of her team. She also has a master's degree from San Diego State, a degree she earned while coaching ZLAC.