It was announced on Wednesday morning that Portland women’s rowing head coach Bill Zack will be leaving The Bluff at the end of the month to become the new head coach at San Diego State University. Zack has been the only head coach in UP women’s rowing history as the Pilots became an NCAA Division I program in the fall of 2011.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Kelsey Kincaid:
When I first came to UP last fall, I had absolutely no knowledge of rowing. I couldn’t even tell you which end of the boat that I was supposed to sit. Everything about the sport was completely foreign to me, and I was absolutely terrified. Thankfully I was blessed with one of the most knowledgeable coaches I have ever had, Bill Zack. Bill taught me everything I know, and I completely owe him my success and understanding of this sport. I’m very lucky for the year I’ve had to learn from him, because in the fall Bill will be the new head coach of rowing at San Diego State University. I’m going to miss him and our launch rides, and especially his advice on boys (stay away from them). Bill has had such an impact on my life in the short time I’ve known him, not only as a coach but also as a role model and a friend. He has definitely left his mark on this team, which is clear in the following messages:
A message from Katelyn Freund:
He inspired us to strive for excellence not just in the world of rowing but also in all aspects of our lives. I personally have learned a lot, from the proper rowing words to how to handle being in a D1 sport.
A message from Bridget Sloat:
Bill,
I am incredibly grateful that I got to have you as a coach, even if only for one year. You will always be a role model in my life.
Thank you,
Bridget
A message from Molly Templin:
It's mostly because of his passion for rowing that I love it so much now, and I'll always appreciate how much he believed in us. He made me want to do the best I could all the time. I feel so privileged to have been coached by him, he and the other coaching staff made a big impact on my life this year, and I'll miss his obscure, outdated references and his enthusiasm so much! I wish the best for him in San Diego!
A message from Taylor Nelson:
Bill,
Thank you for teaching me discipline and attention to detail. You have inspired me to be my very best in every aspect of life and taught me how to push myself more than I thought possible. I wish you nothing but the best and will miss launch parties with you in the mornings!!
-- Taylor Nelson (t-bone)
A message from Lucy Grimm:
You have always been more than just a coach to a lot of us; you've been like a father figure. You have taught us more than just how to row, you have taught us how to be good people. I know a lot of us look up to you and appreciate you for all that you've done for the team. You never stopped fighting for us and we could never thank you enough for wanting the very best for us. You may not realize how much we all value you in our lives but I hope you know now that we do. I hope the girls at San Diego State realize how lucky they are to get a coach like you. Anyways, we all love you and care about you Bill and I just wanted to make sure you knew that.
Kelsey Kincaid:
Bill has meant a lot to our program, and we wouldn’t be anywhere close to where we are now without him. He has taught us so much, and even though he is going to be sorely missed our team is incredibly thankful for everything he has given us. Bill managed to transform our team into competitors in such a short time. He built our program up in two years, something that would not have been possible without all of his hard work and ability to push us to be our absolute best. While we’re sad to see him go, we know Bill has set us up to be successful in the years to come and that he’s going to continue to do amazing things. As long as we’re not racing against SDSU, we’ll be cheering for them and for Bill. And of course we’ll carry on the legacy of BGD. Thanks again for everything Bill, we love you and good luck!
