The University of Dayton Division of Athletics announced the promotion of Derek Copeland to full-time head women's rowing coach.
Copeland is in his third season at the helm of the Flyer women's rowing program. Copeland is the fourth head coach in the Dayton Flyers women's rowing program's history since being moved to varsity status.
Most of the 88 NCAA Division I rowing programs have full-time coaches. The move solidifies Copeland at UD and should help him and his staff with recruiting and training.
"The girls have come a long way in the previous few years," said Copeland. "This change will be quite a boost toward qualifying for an NCAA Championship."
The NCAA recently reorganized the automatic qualifying requirements which will take place at the beginning of the 2011-12 campaign. A conference must support at least six varsity teams to be eligible for an automatic qualifier spot; as a result, the following six conferences will be granted automatic qualifier spots: Atlantic- 10, Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Ivy, and Pac-10.
Copeland's tenure at UD as a part-time coach has produced strong results in his previous two seasons.
In 2008-09 the Flyers earned their second consecutive fourth place finish at the 2009 Atlantic 10 Women's Rowing Championship. Dayton recorded a program-record 102 points at the event. Allison Gates earned a First Team, All-Atlantic 10 selection, while Kate Athmer and Cydne Mason garnered Second Team, All-Atlantic 10 honors. Gates was also has been named to the 2009 Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team.
In 2007-08 UD enjoyed numerous successes in the water. In the spring season, the Varsity 8 placed in first at the UD Spring Regatta and the Washington D.C. Regatta on back-to-back days. Those two wins set the stage for a fourth place finish at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Women's Rowing Championship.
Copeland is the fourth head coach in the program's history since being moved to varsity status.
Copeland will continue to oversee the development of the Flyer women's rowing program. Those duties include fundraising, coordinating budgets, equipment purchasing and maintenance, scheduling, travel planning and athlete development.
With his promotion to a full-time position, Copeland will also assist the Flyer Athletic Department with various duties.
According to Senior Associate Athletic Director Mike Kelly, Copeland will have secondary functions assisting with maintenance and operations of fields and facilities.
"We were pleased with the progress Derek had made with our rowing program as a part time coach and we are delighted to move him to a full time position," Kelly said.
Copeland graduated Dayton in 2000 with a degree in Business Management and is currently a Ph.D. candidate for Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Wright State University.
Copeland lives in Dayton with his wife Debra and sons Jobe and Dax.
