Rowing has deep roots at the University of Notre Dame. Students first took to the waters of the St. Joseph River and the two campus lakes as early as 1867, forming a social rowing club. For nearly a century, rowing remained a casual pastime—until a group of determined students launched the Notre Dame Rowing Club (NDRC) in 1964, setting in motion a legacy of competition, sportsmanship, and lifelong friendships.
The Start of Women’s Rowing
After Notre Dame began admitting women in 1972, the NDRC welcomed its first female rowers the following year. In the fall of 1973, Clete Graham, then the men’s coxswain, began coaching the newly formed women’s team. By the spring of 1974, male and female rowers trained side-by-side, competing for trophies across the Midwest.
The women made history quickly. At the 1974 Midwest Sprints, they brought home Notre Dame’s first women’s rowing trophy. They repeated their victory in 1975, becoming the university’s only undefeated team that year—and the first undefeated women’s team in school history.
Read More: A Personal History of the Beginnings of Women’s Rowing at Notre Dame by Jody Gormley
A Lasting Partnership
The camaraderie between the men’s and women’s teams remains a defining feature of Notre Dame Rowing. That unity was evident in 2015, when alumni from both programs came together to fund the construction of the McConnell Boathouse, which today houses the women’s varsity team and the NDRC.
The Rise of Varsity Rowing
In 1996, a group of NDRC women presented a proposal to Athletic Director Mike Wadsworth to establish a varsity program. Two years later, in the 1998–99 school year, Notre Dame Women’s Varsity Rowing became the university’s 26th varsity sport.
Under Head Coach Martin Stone, the varsity program gained national recognition with multiple NCAA appearances. Among its most celebrated athletes is Molly Bruggeman, a nine-time U.S. National Team member and 2024 U.S. Olympian in the Women’s Four.
NDRC: The Men’s Program Today
The Notre Dame Rowing Club (NDRC) remains one of the nation’s top club rowing teams. In 2008, it became a founding member of the American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA). The program has seen impressive success, including:
- Gold Medal in the Collegiate 4+ at the 2022 Head of the Charles Regatta
- Bronze Medal at the 2023 ACRA National Championships
- #2 National Ranking in the ACRA Coaches Poll (as of May 7, 2024)
Notably, Joe Kiely ’24 became the first Irish rower to break six minutes on the erg, setting a new team record. He represented the U.S. in the U23 Eight, earning a silver medal at the 2023 U23 World Championships in Bulgaria. He now serves in the U.S. Navy.
A Championship for the Ages: ACRA 2024
In Spring 2024, Notre Dame Men’s Rowing delivered a performance reminiscent of the Boys in the Boat, winning gold at the American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) National Championships—the Super Bowl of collegiate club rowing.
They overcame elite competition, surging ahead in the final stretch to beat UVA and UCLA in a thrilling race that will live forever in Notre Dame Rowing history. Several seniors even skipped graduation to compete—showcasing the selfless dedication that defines this team. The crew: Eugene Tunney, Wells Benson, Joe Kiely (Captain), Joseph Dauenhauer, Noah Barkoff, Aidan Walsh, Joe Jackson, Aidan Kiley, Coxswain Bridget Murphy and Coach: Quinn Klocke
2025 ACRA Nationals: Irish Win Bronze
Notre Dame continued its impressive run at the 2025 ACRA National Championships in Oak Ridge, TN, fielding its largest lineup in recent memory—three varsity eights and a novice four. For the third straight year, the 1st Varsity 8+ landed on the podium with a Bronze Medal in the Grand Final, further cementing Notre Dame’s place among the nation’s elite collegiate programs.
Other Standout Performances:
— 2V8+ won the B Final (4th-fastest time overall)
— 3V8+ reached the A Final and placed 6th
— Novice 4+ won the C Final, finishing 13th overall
Notre Dame tied Rutgers for 6th place in total team points—a testament to the program’s depth, development, and determination. 1V Lineup – 2025 ACRA Grand Final: Coxswain: Bridget Murphy ’27 (Havertown, PA); Stroke: Eugene Tunney ’25 (Minneapolis, MN); 7 Seat: Wells Benson ’26 (Devon, PA); 6 Seat: Joseph Dauenhauer ’25 (Midland, MI); 5 Seat: Noah Barkoff (Graduate – Glencoe, IL); 4 Seat: Cole Schoenborn ’27 (Clarence, NY); 3 Seat: Aidan Walsh ’27 (St. Paul, MN); 2 Seat: Joe Jackson ’25 (Dorchester, MA); Bow: Aidan Kiley ’26 (Washington, DC).
Building the Future
Following the gold medal season, Notre Dame began the 2024–25 season strong with a 12th place finish out of 42 in the Men’s Collegiate 8+ at the Head of the Charles Regatta—besting 18 varsity programs and earning an automatic bid for 2025. The current roster boasts roughly four full eights, with over half being first-year novice rowers. Much of the team’s strength this fall is thanks to the dedication of three volunteer assistant coaches:
- Carson Schoen, a third-year law student and former NDRC rower
- Noah Barkoff, a graduate student and 2024 ACRA champion
- Nelson Goubeaux, a Coast Guard Academy graduate (’91) and South Bend local
The Legacy Continues
From the shores of the St. Joseph River to the global stage of the Olympics, Notre Dame Rowing stands as a testament to Resilience, Unity, and Excellence.
