Princeton University Athletics
Rassam, Turk Look To Lead Women's Lightweight Crew Back To Top
November 23, 2004 | Women's Rowing - Lightweight
Nov. 23, 2004
PRINCETON - The highly successful Princeton women's lightweight crew, which was led to five national titles by former head coach Heather Smith, is now in the able hands of head coach Paul Rassam and assistant coach Jeremy Turk, both of whom graduated from Princeton.
Rassam served two years as the head women's coach and two others as an assistant coach at George Mason from 2000-2004. During his two years as the head coach, he was able to triple the George Mason team size. His successful term was highlighted at the Dad Vail Regatta, when he led the Varsity 8s to the semifinal race for the first time in six years.
In 2003, George Mason placed second overall in the Colonial Athletic Conference championships, and the lightweight 4 won the gold at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships. Rassam has also coached masters at Smichov Rowing Club, Prague and Capital Rowing Club in Washington, D.C.
A 1997 Princeton graduate with a degree in English literature, Rassam started his professional career as an account canager with Eurosports Marketing in Prague and Budapest. He rowed as a lightweight for three years and won two bronze medals at the Eastern Sprints (1991 and 1992) and one gold in 1995, when Princeton went on to win the Jope Cup.
In 1994, Rassam finished in fourth place in the Kayaking National Championships. He continues to train and race, most recently competing with the Princeton Lightweight Alumni at the 2004 Henley Royal Regatta and at the 2004 Head of the Charles with the Fat Cat Princeton Alumni boat.
Turk, a 2004 gradutate of Princeton University with a degree in Geosciences, returns to Princeton to begin his first year coaching as the assistant women's lightweight coach.
Jeremy was a four-year member of the men's lightweight team, and he earned two undefeated seasons (2001 and 2003) and two Eastern Sprints Championships during his Princeton career. Additionally in 2003, he won a silver medal in the IRA national championships in the Men's heavyweight pair.Prior to rowing at Princeton, he rowed for La Salle College High School and sculled for Cresent Boat Club in Philadelphia.
In addition to his coaching responsibilites with the women's lightweight team, Jeremy also serves as a coach for the Carnegie Lake Rowing Association.