Princeton University Athletics
Rowe Cup Champ Heavyweights Introduce Two New Members Of Coaching Staff
September 17, 2015 | Heavyweight Rowing
Coming off its first Rowe Cup title since 2005 and a three-boat trip to the Royal Henley Regatta, heavyweight head coach Greg Hughes has high aspirations for his program this year. He has brought in two talented young coaches to help develop the Tigers as they look for their first Sprints gold in a decade.
And one of those coaches has experience in what it takes to win Sprints gold.
Phillip Brunner and Reid Johnson have both joined Hughes and assistant Matt Smith on the Princeton coaching staff for the upcoming season. Brunner served as the volunteer assistant coach for the Sprints champion Yale Bulldogs last year, while Johnson was the head novice boys coach at the Saugatuck Rowing Club.
“I'm really excited to have both of these guys join our program,” Hughes said. “They are two young guys with great hands-on experience in the sport, and they will both bring a ton of energy to our team.”
Brunner coached at Yale last year and led the fourth varsity boat to the Sprints grand final, as well as assisting in all other aspects of the program. It was a memorable year for the Bulldogs, who won their first Sprints gold since 1982, and then won the Ladies Challenge Plate at Henley.
Prior to his time at Yale, Brunner coached at his alma mater, Notre Dame, for three seasons, including two as head coach (2012-14). He guided the 2014 Fighting Irish to its first medal in three years at the American Collegiate Rowing Association Championships. He also spent summers working with both the New York and Pennsylvania Athletic Clubs.
Brunner rowed at Notre Dame, where he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in History. He earned a place in the Notre Dame Glynn Family Honors Program.
Johnson, who will serve as volunteer assistant at Princeton, led the Saugatuck novice, racing as the 2V, to a gold medal at the Northeast Regional Championships in Lowell, Mass. That followed an undefeated fall and a highly successful spring.
Johnson rowed at Hobart, where he served as team captain and won multiple league and New York state championships. He was a multiple-time New England Championship medalist at the Salisbury School, where he was a three-sport varsity athlete.