University of North Carolina Athletics
Two Experienced Coaches Join Tar Heel Staff
August 22, 2017 | Women's Rowing
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – UNC rowing head coach Sarah Haney has announced the addition of two new coaches, Emilie Gross and Erick Thiemke, to the Carolina staff. Gross and Thiemke will work with all aspects of the Tar Heel program.
"We are thrilled to have both Emilie and Erick join us and we look forward to having them work with our team," Haney said. "Both bring outstanding experience and great energy to Chapel Hill, and I know they'll be assets to our program."
Gross has spent the past two years at the University of Dayton, where she served as novice rowing coach. Prior to that, she spent a year at Three Rivers Rowing Association in Pittsburgh, where she was junior novice coach, master's assistant coach and boathouse keeper.
She was a coxswain at Michigan State from 2006-10, helping the Spartans to Big Ten titles in 2008 and 2009 and top-10 finishes at the 2009 and 2010 NCAA Championships. She earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2009 and graduated with honors in 2011. After graduation, she worked as a packaging engineer for three years before returning to rowing.
"Emilie brings with her a wealth of knowledge on the competitive front and the ability to work with our athletes on personal development," Haney said. "Her experience as a coxswain will also be valuable to our team because she will be able to bring her experience to our coxswain group. She has proven that she can develop student-athletes into successful students, as well as successful rowers and coxswains."
Thiemke comes to UNC after a year as boatman/rigger at the University of Miami. Prior to his stint with the Hurricanes, he was the head rowing coach at Assumption College (head women's coach, 2012-15) and Clark University (head men's and women's coach, 2003-12). He also has coached at Lake Quinsigamond Community Rowing, Amherst College and Worcester State College.
He is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Worcester State College. He earned a master's degree in physical education from Bridgewater State in 2015.
"Erick has tremendous experience working with equipment and making all of our boats, oars, ergs and launches work smoothly and efficiently," Haney said. "Having someone with that detailed mindset will make sure we are able to get the most out of our equipment as well as the most out of each practice. He also has valuable experience coaching and he will be able to relay his knowledge and visual learning style to our team, which will enhance learning."
The Tar Heels will launch the 2017-18 season on Wednesday (Aug. 23) with a meeting for students interested in trying out for the novice team. The varsity squad begins competition on Oct. 14, racing against Duke in Bahama, N.C.
"We are thrilled to have both Emilie and Erick join us and we look forward to having them work with our team," Haney said. "Both bring outstanding experience and great energy to Chapel Hill, and I know they'll be assets to our program."
Gross has spent the past two years at the University of Dayton, where she served as novice rowing coach. Prior to that, she spent a year at Three Rivers Rowing Association in Pittsburgh, where she was junior novice coach, master's assistant coach and boathouse keeper.
She was a coxswain at Michigan State from 2006-10, helping the Spartans to Big Ten titles in 2008 and 2009 and top-10 finishes at the 2009 and 2010 NCAA Championships. She earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2009 and graduated with honors in 2011. After graduation, she worked as a packaging engineer for three years before returning to rowing.
"Emilie brings with her a wealth of knowledge on the competitive front and the ability to work with our athletes on personal development," Haney said. "Her experience as a coxswain will also be valuable to our team because she will be able to bring her experience to our coxswain group. She has proven that she can develop student-athletes into successful students, as well as successful rowers and coxswains."
Thiemke comes to UNC after a year as boatman/rigger at the University of Miami. Prior to his stint with the Hurricanes, he was the head rowing coach at Assumption College (head women's coach, 2012-15) and Clark University (head men's and women's coach, 2003-12). He also has coached at Lake Quinsigamond Community Rowing, Amherst College and Worcester State College.
He is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Worcester State College. He earned a master's degree in physical education from Bridgewater State in 2015.
"Erick has tremendous experience working with equipment and making all of our boats, oars, ergs and launches work smoothly and efficiently," Haney said. "Having someone with that detailed mindset will make sure we are able to get the most out of our equipment as well as the most out of each practice. He also has valuable experience coaching and he will be able to relay his knowledge and visual learning style to our team, which will enhance learning."
The Tar Heels will launch the 2017-18 season on Wednesday (Aug. 23) with a meeting for students interested in trying out for the novice team. The varsity squad begins competition on Oct. 14, racing against Duke in Bahama, N.C.
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