College Sports

Allen Named IRCA National Coach of the Year

By: Justin Lafleur Story Links HANOVER, N.H. — Wyatt Allen, the Betsy and Mark Gates 1959 Head Coach of Men’s Heavyweight Rowing, has been named the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association (IRCA) National Coach of the Year, as announced on Friday. Allen helped lead the Big Green to tremendous success […]

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HANOVER, N.H. Wyatt Allen, the Betsy and Mark Gates 1959 Head Coach of Men’s Heavyweight Rowing, has been named the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association (IRCA) National Coach of the Year, as announced on Friday. Allen helped lead the Big Green to tremendous success in 2025, highlighted by the varsity eight finishing second at Eastern Sprints and third at the IRA National Championship.
 
Allen was a finalist for the award along with the head coaches of Washington (Michael Callahan), Cal (Scott Frandsen) and Syracuse (Dave Reischman).
 
“I’m really happy to see Wyatt win this award,” said Billy Bender, who stroked the varsity eight. “He has been instrumental to my development as an athlete and has helped so many guys on our team make the jump from good to elite. It has been really fun to see the program grow into one of the best teams in the nation under his leadership.”
 
The varsity eight went from 11th in the country in 2024 to third in 2025. The crew finished unbeaten in their spring dual season, going on to finish second at Eastern Sprints and third at the IRA National Championship, only trailing Washington and Harvard at IRAs. Dartmouth’s grand final time of 5:30.900 was only 0.15 seconds behind the Crimson in second and just 1.12 seconds behind the national champion Huskies.
 
The Big Green also saw their second and fourth varsity eights earn bronze medals at Eastern Sprints.
 
“Coach Wyatt is Dartmouth Rowing,” said Sammy Houdaigui, coxswain of the varsity eight. “He inspires and expects everyone to achieve their potential, not just on the water but also in all facets of life. His strength of character is evident in every interaction you have with him. His leadership, integrity and commitment to his athletes have made every member of the team a better person.
 
“I came to Dartmouth for the chance to be coached by Wyatt, and it has been the most formative experience of my life,” Houdaigui continued.
 
For the varsity eight, the spring began with a win at Yale, giving Dartmouth the Olympic Axe for the first time in the Axe’s 21-year history. The crew went on to pick up dual victories over Boston University, Syracuse, Wisconsin, Columbia and Northeastern.
 
“Coach getting this award is not a surprise for any of us on the team,” said Houdaigui. “We all know we have the best coach out there. What makes me most grateful for the last four years is that I had the chance to be coached by someone whose strength of character is every bit as remarkable as his coaching ability.”
 



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