April 21, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Karen Klinger Named NEWMAC Crew Coach of the Year

Northampton, MA: Smith College crew coach, Karen Klinger, has been voted the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) rowing coach of the year. The Smith crew captured the NEWMAC Championship this past weekend after a two-year hiatus.

Klinger, who also brought home NEWMAC Rowing Coach of the Year honors in 2006, 2005, 2002 and in 1999, has been the head coach of crew at Smith since 1997. A 1987 graduate of Smith, Klinger competed nationally and internationally in rowing, winning a gold medal in the 1991 Pan Am Games in Havana and participating in the 1992 Olympic trials. She has been a member of US Rowing since 1983, the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Board of Directors since 1999, and served as President from 2002-06.  She currently serves on the NCAA Division III Rowing Committe and is a member of the New England Championships and ECAC Regatta Seeding Committees. In 2002, she also was chosen Division III Rowing Coach of the Year by the CRCA membership.

The Smith crew team won the varsity eight race this past weekend to take the NEWMAC title.  The team also brought home the Florence Jope Smith Cup, awarded to the team with the highest number of points in the overall competition. In addition to winning the varsity race, the rowers took first in the novice eight and second varsity eight and finished third in the third varsity eight for a total of 30 points.