SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Erin Czupil has been selected as the next head coach of the Union College men's and women's crew programs, Director of Athletics Jim McLaughlin '93 announced on Tuesday.
"I am incredibly honored and grateful to be named the next head coach of the Union College crew teams," Czupil said. "I want to sincerely thank Jim McLaughlin, Beth Tiffany, and everyone involved in the search process for believing in me and trusting me with the opportunity to lead this outstanding program."
"Our department is looking forward to the next chapter for our crew programs with Erin at the helm," McLaughlin said. "Her excitement to continue the legacy of rowing at Union while also bringing new ideas to the boathouse makes her the ideal person to lead our crew teams."
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Czupil will take over as only the second head coach in the programs' histories. After two seasons coaching at the University at Albany helping the Great Danes start up a women's crew program, Czupil inherits a crew team at Union formerly led by Tom White for the past 32 years.
"I would be remiss to not recognize Coach White for his years of dedication to Union College," Czupil added. "His commitment to the program has built a tradition of excellence and left a lasting legacy that deserves tremendous respect. I look forward to honoring that foundation while helping write the next chapter of Union rowing."
Over the past two seasons at UAlbany, Czupil led the team's recruiting efforts and signed 17 student-athletes during the second year of the nascent program. In addition to coaching daily practices for the team of 30, she also assisted with travel logistics and purchasing while tracking and adhering to the changing rules of the current NCAA landscape.
Before her two seasons as an assistant coach at the Division I level, Czupil gained head coaching experience in the Capital Region as the head coach of the varsity boys team at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School and the Erie Canal Athletic Club. She coached one of her varsity quads to a state and national scholastic championship while leading the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake team for two seasons.
Czupil began her coaching career on the Mohawk River in 2018, serving as an assistant coach at Niskayuna High School for five years.
"Having coached on the Mohawk River for nearly a decade, I've long admired Union and the unique balance it offers between academic excellence, competitive athletics, and a close-knit campus community," Czupil said. "From the first time I watched Union crews row by, I saw a program with tremendous potential and a place where young men and women could grow into successful rowers and coxswains, and also confident leaders and exceptional people."
Czupil graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in health and human physiology while minoring in human relations and psychology. She was a Division I student-athlete during her time in Iowa City as a member of the Hawkeyes' crew team and was named the team's Most Valuable Rower as a sophomore in 2013.
Czupil assumes her position as the head men's and women's crew coach immediately.
"I am excited to meet our current student-athletes, connect with our alumni, and begin recruiting the next generation of Garnet Chargers," Czupil said. "I can't wait to get on the water and become part of the Union community. The future is incredibly bright, and I'm honored to begin this journey together."
