US press release - Coach of the Year 1997


The Rowing Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SEPT. 11, 1997CONTACT: Brett Johnson, USRowing Communications Manager, (317) 237-5645TETI NAMED NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR;CLARK NAMED DEVELOPMENTAL COACH OF THE YEAR	INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The USRowing National Team coaches named head men's sweep coach Mike Teti National Coach of the Year and the University ofWisconsin's men's head coach Chris Clark Developmental Coach of the Year,USRowing Executive Director Frank J. Coyle announced Thursday.	Both coaches will be honored by the United States Olympic CommitteeSaturday in Indianapolis at the second-annual Coaching Recognition banquet.	"Mike and Chris have been selected by their peers for this honor whichgives it special meaning," Coyle said.  "Their dedication to both ourathletes and the sport has been crucial to the significant achievements ofthe USRowing team this year and has established a high standard for buildinga stronger national team."	Teti (Upper Darby, Pa.) coached the men's eight and the men's pair withcoxswain to gold medals at the 1997 FISA World Rowing Championships inAiguebelette, France, earlier this month.  He also coached the men's fourwith coxswain to a fourth-place finish at the World Championships.	"This is really a honor for the whole national coaching staff," Teti said.  "What's really encouraging about the whole team is that everybody is soyoung and that bodes well for Sydney in 2000."	A National Team coach since 1994, Teti took over the men's head sweepcoaching position in December of 1996.  As an athlete, Teti was a 12-timeNational Team member, a world champion and the 1987 USRowing Male Athlete ofthe Year.	Clark, who is in his second year as a National Team coach, coached themen's four with coxswain to a fourth-place finish at the 1997 WorldChampionships.  He also coached the men's eight to a silver medal at the 1997Nation's Cup (Under-23 World Championships).  In 1996, Clark (Madison, Wisc.)coached the men's eight to a gold medal at the Nation's Cup.	As an athlete, Clark was a two-time National Team member.  He won a silver medal in the men's pair with coxswain at the 1983 Pan American Games.	"It's a tremendous honor to be selected by your coaching peers," Clarksaid.