FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University Director of Athletics
Michael Mominey has named Heather Barney as the head coach of the NSU women's rowing program for the 2014-15 season.
"Heather has a proven track record as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Bucknell and Georgetown," Mominey said. "Her enthusiasm, work ethic and passion to continue the winning tradition already established at NSU became evident early throughout the search process and we are very excited to have someone of her caliber heading up our program."
Barney takes over the helm for Stephen Frazier-Wong, who recently stepped down to take the head position at Clemson. The NSU women's rowing team won the NCAA Division II national title in 2013, which was the first rowing title in school history and sixth overall for the athletic department in five years.
"I would like to thank Mike Mominey,
Kelley Kish and the rest of the search committee for this amazing opportunity," Barney said. "Throughout the interview process, I was constantly impressed with the athletic department and the incredible support and care provided for all NSU student-athletes. When you step on campus and feel the positive energy around the women's rowing team, it's easy to understand why they have had such tremendous success in their short, but impressive history."
Not only does Barney bring a wealth of coaching experience to the NSU rowing program, she has also been mentored by some of the top female leaders and coaches from around the NCAA, having been a member of the Alliance of Women Coaches for nearly a decade. She graduated from the Alliance's NCAA Women's Coaching Academy in 2006, which is a weeklong educational training session that offers non-sport specific program management strategies with a special focus on philosophy development, building skills and knowledge.
"I would like to congratulate Heather Barney for this well-deserved opportunity," said Celia Slater, Co-Founder of The Alliance. "She has worked hard at the craft we call coaching and she attended the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy as well as our national event called the Huddle. She has not shied away from accepting assistant coaching roles that would help her grow in her profession. I have always been impressed with her dedication to improve as a person and as a coach."
Barney spent the last two seasons with Bucknell University as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator where she demonstrated a high level of success. In 2013, she led the program's varsity-4 to a gold medal at the Patriot League Championship and silver medals at the Dad Vail and Knecht Cup which resulted in the most successful season for the Bison V4. The next year she was responsible for coaching Bucknell's lightweight-8 to a bronze at the 2014 IRA National Championships.
Prior to her time at Bucknell, Barney spent four years as an assistant coach at Georgetown (2007-11) and two (2005-07) at her alma mater Williams College. During her four-year stint with the Hoyas, Barney was an integral part of the coaching staff that led the program from a seventh-place finish to second at the BIG EAST Championships. She also oversaw all aspects of the fall novice program and was responsible for leading the novice-4 to their first-ever openweight gold medal at the Eastern Sprints in 2009 and a bronze medal at the 2011 BIG EAST Championships for the second varsity-8. While working at her alma mater, she assisted the Williams College program in winning back-to-back NCAA Division III national titles in 2006 and 2007.
Barney also spent time as an open sculling coach for the Potomac Boat Club (2001-12) and was the freshman rowing coach for the National Cathedral School (spring 2012).
While a student-athlete at Williams, Barney competed at the 2000 and 2001 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships and was a CRCA National Scholar-Athlete both years. She was a team captain as a senior and rowed the bow seat in the fastest Division III crew in the country her junior and senior years, while earning back-to-back gold medals in the V8 at the New England Championships and the ECAC National Invitational Collegiate Regatta.
Barney holds a Master's Degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University (2014) and earned a bachelor's degree from Williams in economics and history with honors (2001).
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