Rowing Adds Andrew Combs And Rosa Kemp To Staff
7/18/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
BUFFALO, NY - The UB rowing team announced a pair of additions to the coaching staff Thursday afternoon, with the hiring of Andrew Combs and Rosa Kemp. Combs comes to the team from league rival Northeastern University and Kemp is a recent UB graduate who rowed for the team from 2009-13 and rejoins the team as a graduate assistant.
Combs has worked at Northeastern since the Fall of 2011, where he assisted in recruiting and practices. With his help, the Huskies medaled at the 2012 and 2013 Eastern Sprints, and the 2013 CAA Varsity Four gold medal. He spent this past season as the coach for the A and B fours, and will be coaching the novices in his first season at Buffalo. Prior to coaching at Northeastern, he was a crew coach and hockey coach for the Kent School in Kent, CT from 2008 to 2011.
As a rower, Combs competed for Marist from 2001-04, leading the crew to a top 20 ranking in the 2002 and 2003 seasons. He also won bronze at the ECAC Championship Regatta in 2002.
"Andrew has had experiences at the highest levels of collegiate rowing and he will be a huge asset to our coaching staff," said head coach Sandy Calfo. "His familiarity with the CAA will also help us as we continue to compete for conference championships."
Kemp recently completed her bachelor's degree in exercise science at UB, and will continue her education while taking on a coaching role for the team. This summer, she competed with Vesper Boat Club at the US Rowing Club Nationals, winning three gold medals and a silver medal while leading the crew to an overall point trophy.
While rowing for UB, Kemp was an All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team member in 2012, and helped the team win the 2010 CAA Conference title. With all her success on the water, Kemp was even more decorated for her work in the classroom. She was a CAA and Mid-American Conference academic honor roll member, and was recognized.
Despite being a recent grad, she also has experience as a coach, heading up the East Arm Rowing Club in Greenwood Lake, NY for three years.
"I am so pleased that Rosa decided to continue her education at UB and be our graduate assistant coach," said Calfo. "She has worked hard on the water and in the classroom and she is an excellent role model for our current student-athletes."
