A pioneer of collegiate women’s rowing, Kevin Sauer has been one of the sport’s truly nice guys, running his program with family values that endeared him to his team and many others.
Kevin Sauer, the only varsity coach the University of Virginia women have ever known, announced his retirement in May.
One of the best-liked and most successful coaches in rowing, Sauer coached the Cavaliers for 29 years, leading the club program into the NCAA when Virginia elevated women’s rowing to varsity status in 1995.
Under Sauer, Virginia won the NCAA Division I national championship in 2010 and 2012 and trophies (top four) 11 times. The Cavaliers have ruled the Atlantic Coast Conference, winning 22 of 23 ACC regattas, including the last 13.
“This has been an incredible ride, and I have enjoyed almost every minute,” Sauer said. “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 who are fairly fortunate, so in retirement I’d like to spend my time helping those less fortunate and with our church. But, most importantly, I want to spend more time with my wife, Barb, who has been my rock and biggest supporter.
“My kids and grandchildren are local, which is a true blessing, so I will be more involved in their lives. I know this program will thrive going forward and I cannot wait to watch and support them as well as all UVA athletics. But our immediate emphasis is to finish this season well with ACCs and NCAAs.”
Sauer surpassed 1,000 career varsity-eight wins at Virginia during the 2019 season. Under Sauer’s tutelage, 46 student-athletes have earned 62 Pocock Racing Shells All-America honors. A Virginia oarswoman has rowed at each of the last five Olympics.
Sauer is a pioneer of collegiate women’s rowing, one of the coaches who took a program from club status to varsity as the sport was elevated by the NCAA. Even as full-ride scholarships and international recruiting brought a professional edge to Division I rowing, Sauer remained one of the sport’s truly nice guys, running his program with family values that endeared him to his team and many others.
“The rowing world is losing a gem,” said Princeton head coach Lori Dauphiny. “But I imagine we are not losing Kevin at all. I have never seen him stand still for a moment and I bet he is the same retired. He has always led by example in our sport. He has the ability to do it all and especially at a time when there was little support in our sport. He built a boathouse both metaphorically and physically. He could fix any rowing course blindfolded. And he developed great teams! He is a legend.”
“Kevin Sauer is on the Mount Rushmore of collegiate coaches, and the landscape of NCAA rowing will be vastly different without him,” said Texas coach Dave O’Neill. “Kevin and his teams have been an inspiration and challenge for many of us, and over the years he’s been a valued mentor, colleague, competitor, and friend.”
Virginia alumnae, friends, and families recognized and honored his contributions to Cavalier rowing by establishing the Kevin Sauer Fund for Excellence in Women’s Rowing in 2023 with an initial collective gift of over a million dollars. The fund began with a $250,000 donation from a former member of the men’s rowing club—Sauer coached both men’s and women’s club crews when he was hired originally to coach the Virginia Rowing Club in the fall of 1988—and included donations from rowers he never coached directly.
“He just cares about people,” said associate head coach Kelsie Chaudoin, who helped organize the fund drive secretly. “He has always put the person before the athlete. He shows his care and concern in his actions every day.”
