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By Katie Lane
Three-time world champion and veteran coach Linda Muri is returning to the coaching launch, fittingly at the place where her collegiate coaching career began. Recently appointed head coach at Simmons University, Muri is no stranger to the rowing community, having spent more than 30 years as a coach, competitor, referee, leader, and advocate for the sport.
“The year and a half I spent working with Megan Kalmoe and Tracy Eisser leading up to trials for Paris was the first time I had a real team since I stepped away from coaching,” Muri said. “It made me realize I still wanted that coaching experience.”
On the international stage, Muri has spent seven years coaching the U.S. under-23 national team, four years coaching the U.S. senior national team, and has also coached the U.S. junior national team and the Zimbabwe under-23 national team. As an athlete, Muri is a three-time world champion, nine-time U.S. national team member, and 18-time U.S. national champion.
“After meeting with Simmons’ athletic director, Erica Schuling, I was really intrigued,” Muri said. “When I got to meet some of the team, their enthusiasm really sold me, to be honest. There’s also a really good energy and camaraderie among the rest of the coaches in the athletic department.”
As she returns to leading a collegiate program, Muri is eager to begin working with the team and preparing them for competition. Once she settles into her new role, her first priority is growing the size of the roster. From there, she hopes to elevate the program’s overall competitiveness.
“I love the process of guiding a team and helping them find their goals,” Muri said.
Muri recognizes she has big shoes to fill at Simmons, following Andrii Ivanchuk and, most notably, Nikolay Kurmakov, who died in 2021.
“Nik is remembered by the alums, by Simmons and by the rowing community as one of the best,” Muri said. “Even though he’s been gone a few years now, those are still big shoes to fill.”
“This all takes time,” Muri said. “It will be an ongoing process.”
