Mercyhurst College has announced the hiring of Ted Nagorsen as the assistant rowing coach, replacing Anne Dinshah. He will assist head coach Adrian Spracklen with all aspects of the men’s and women’s rowing programs.
“I am very excited and honored to be given the opportunity to work with Coach Spracklen, volunteer coach Chris Niebauer, and such great student-athletes,” Nagorsen said. “I have seen the program develop in talent and speed over the years and consider myself blessed to have the chance to give back to a sport that has given so much to me.”
Nagorsen has worked as a volunteer assistant with the rowing programs during the past two years, as well as holding a full-time position in the admissions department, and is a Mercyhurst rowing alum, having graduated from the college in 2005. He was a member of men’s lightweight eight that placed second at the 2004 and 2005 ECAC National Invitational Regatta.
“Ted is a perfect fit for the program,” Spracklen said. “He is a graduate of the rowing program and his experience in the admissions department is a great strength. His greatest strength, though, is his passion for the sport and I am pleased that Ted is going to be my right-hand man as the program looks to continue winning national championships in upcoming years.”
Nagorsen began rowing in 1995 at St. Mary’s Preparatory in Orchard Lake, Mich. He helped his high school rowing program win a national and numerous state titles. He was also a member of the 1998 crew that placed second at the Royal Henley Regatta in England.
From there, Nagorsen began working with the novice program at his alma mater in 1999 and took them to three state titles and a Midwest Championship. While coaching, he continued to train as a competing athlete, which helped him to develop a better understanding of the sport as both a coach and athlete. Meanwhile, he studied at Oakland University prior to transferring to Mercyhurst in the fall of 2002.