Aug. 1, 2007

DAYTON, Ohio - The Dayton Flyers didn't have to look far for their newest women's rowing head coach.

That's because UD promoted Derek Copeland from assistant to head coach on Wednesday replacing Mike Farrey. Copeland served as an assistant for the Flyers last year working with the novice rowers.

"I'm taking over a team that is successful already," Copeland said. "I'm looking to expand on the success we already have. It's exciting to be a part of that."

Copeland is the fourth head coach in the program's history since being moved to varsity status.

With strong boats in the Lightweight 8 and Varsity 8, Copeland hopes to continue the success of the Second Varsity 8 and the novice rowers. The Lightweight 8 has been nationally ranked the past three years in the Top 10 and the Varsity 8 and Second Varsity 8 one of their best showings of the year at their last meet, the Dad Vail Regatta.

In addition to his success on the water, Copeland places a strong emphasis on academics. In his first year as an assistant with the women's program, seven members from the Flyers women's rowing team were among those selected on the 2007 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association 2007 scholar athletes.

Copeland will oversee the development of the Flyer women's rowing program. Those duties include fundraising, coordinating budgets, equipment purchasing and maintenance, scheduling, travel planning and player development.

"Derek brings a wealth experience and knowledge to our program," Associate Athletic Director Joe Owens said. "His love of the sport of competitive rowing and UD student-athletes is evident. He will be able to keep in place many of the things that have made UD Rowing so special in the past while adding ideas, methods and strategies to take the program even further."

Prior to his involvement with the women's rowing program, Copeland rowed for the UD men's club team from 1996 to 2000. He helped the Flyers achieve a Top 15 national ranking his final two seasons in the US Rowing Coaches Poll.

After rowing for UD, he became the club's head coach until 2006. Copeland has also worked as a head coach for the Dayton Boat Club.

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 son Jobe.