Virginia women's rowing coach Kevin Sauer says this will be his final season

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Kevin Sauer, who coached Virginia’s women’s rowing program to two NCAA championships, 22 Atlantic Coast Conference titles and nine NCAA team event championships in 29 years, has announced he will retire at the end of the season.

Initially hired as the Virginia Rowing Club’s second full-time coach in 1988, Sauer oversaw the elevation of the women’s team to varsity status in the fall of 1995. He will continue leading the Cavaliers through this year’s ACC and NCAA championships.

“This has been an incredible ride and I have enjoyed almost every minute,” Sauer said in a statement Thursday. “I have appreciated all of the great support from administration, staff, assistant coaches, boatmen, parents and alumni. And, most of all, the student-athletes have been awesome and I’ll miss that the most.

“I have spent all these years working with those that are fairly fortunate, so in retirement I’d like to spend my time helping those less fortunate and with our church,” he said, adding that another priority is spending more time with family.

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