Katherine McFetridge Named Women's Lightweight Rowing Assistant Coach
September 02, 2025 | Women's Rowing - Lightweight
PRINCETON, N.J. – Katherine McFetridge has been named an assistant coach of the Princeton University women's lightweight rowing team.
"We are very pleased to welcome Kate to our program," said Head Coach Paul Rassam. "Kate brings extensive knowledge to the position, as she has lived the rowing life for the past 15 years: She was a very successful varsity rower at USC; has trained and raced post-collegiately at a high level in the 1x; has coached at top ranked openweight programs; and has worked sales and tech support for boat manufacturers. Kate brings a wealth of experience and passion for the sport. She will be a great addition to our program's efforts."
McFetridge joins the Tigers from Rutgers, where she had been assistant coach since fall 2023.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to coach such an incredible group of women," said McFetridge. "I know the Tiger Lights to be hardworking, disciplined, and fierce. My hope is to inspire and empower our team to uphold these strong values, build upon them, and strive for even more this year. I am also excited to work alongside Coach Paul, whose decades of experience will continue to guide my own growth and learning. We are going to have a great year!"
McFetridge helped the team elevate from a 15th team finish overall at the 2024 NCAA Championship to eighth in 2025. While with Rutgers, Kate assisted their team in winning 2025 Doc Hosea and Women's Sprints Team Championships. Rutgers finished second behind the University of Washington at the 2025 Big Ten Championship an all-time best in program history. The Rutgers rowing staff was named 2025 CRCA regional staff of the year. McFetridge's time at Rutgers concluded with an impressive Island Cup win at the 2025 Henley Royal Regatta.
A New Jersey native, McFetridge competed in the single and double sculls for Vesper Boat Club from 2011 through 2016. She won a silver medal for Team USA in the Open Women's Single Scull at the 2015 Pan American Games. In 2012, she won a US rowing Club National Championship in the Women's Intermediate. In 2013, she won gold in the Women's Senior Double at the same championships. This summer, Kate resumed training in the single scull as a member of Penn AC's High-Performance team.
McFetridge was a varsity rower at University of Southern California women's rowing team from 2007-11. The Trojans had top 10 team finishes at the NCAA Championships in 2008, 2010, and 2011. McFetridge's best finish at the NCAA Championships was fourth in the Varsity Four in 2010.
McFetridge graduated from USC with a degree in health promotion and disease prevention. Born in Washington Township, New Jersey, she is a graduate of West Deptford High School, where she was the school valedictorian and was an All-Conference player in both basketball and field hockey. McFetridge loves painting and listening to audiobooks and podcasts in her free time.
"We are very pleased to welcome Kate to our program," said Head Coach Paul Rassam. "Kate brings extensive knowledge to the position, as she has lived the rowing life for the past 15 years: She was a very successful varsity rower at USC; has trained and raced post-collegiately at a high level in the 1x; has coached at top ranked openweight programs; and has worked sales and tech support for boat manufacturers. Kate brings a wealth of experience and passion for the sport. She will be a great addition to our program's efforts."
McFetridge joins the Tigers from Rutgers, where she had been assistant coach since fall 2023.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to coach such an incredible group of women," said McFetridge. "I know the Tiger Lights to be hardworking, disciplined, and fierce. My hope is to inspire and empower our team to uphold these strong values, build upon them, and strive for even more this year. I am also excited to work alongside Coach Paul, whose decades of experience will continue to guide my own growth and learning. We are going to have a great year!"
McFetridge helped the team elevate from a 15th team finish overall at the 2024 NCAA Championship to eighth in 2025. While with Rutgers, Kate assisted their team in winning 2025 Doc Hosea and Women's Sprints Team Championships. Rutgers finished second behind the University of Washington at the 2025 Big Ten Championship an all-time best in program history. The Rutgers rowing staff was named 2025 CRCA regional staff of the year. McFetridge's time at Rutgers concluded with an impressive Island Cup win at the 2025 Henley Royal Regatta.
A New Jersey native, McFetridge competed in the single and double sculls for Vesper Boat Club from 2011 through 2016. She won a silver medal for Team USA in the Open Women's Single Scull at the 2015 Pan American Games. In 2012, she won a US rowing Club National Championship in the Women's Intermediate. In 2013, she won gold in the Women's Senior Double at the same championships. This summer, Kate resumed training in the single scull as a member of Penn AC's High-Performance team.
McFetridge was a varsity rower at University of Southern California women's rowing team from 2007-11. The Trojans had top 10 team finishes at the NCAA Championships in 2008, 2010, and 2011. McFetridge's best finish at the NCAA Championships was fourth in the Varsity Four in 2010.
McFetridge graduated from USC with a degree in health promotion and disease prevention. Born in Washington Township, New Jersey, she is a graduate of West Deptford High School, where she was the school valedictorian and was an All-Conference player in both basketball and field hockey. McFetridge loves painting and listening to audiobooks and podcasts in her free time.
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