WOMEN'S ROWING

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Rudy Wieler

BUFFALO, NY ­ University at Buffalo Interim Athletics Director Bill Maher has announced the hiring of Rudy Wieler as head coach of the Bulls' crew program. Wieler has an extensive wealth of coaching experience at both the scholastic and national levels during his 35-year coaching career, including the past two seasons spent at Buffalo coaching the Bulls' varsity rowers.

"Rudy's professional background in women's crew is outstanding, and he has been instrumental in the competitive improvement that our student-athletes have enjoyed," said Maher. "I am confident that his coaching experience and understanding of our program will allow him to assume this important leadership role and continue to positively effect the growth of our women's crew program."

At Buffalo, Wieler has coached the varsity squads to impressive finishes in both regional and national events. During the 2002-03 season, Buffalo's varsity eight boats took first place at the Head of the Ohio, second place at the New York State Championships, third place at the Frostbite Regatta, fourth place at the Metro Cup and first and second place in the petite finals of the Knecht Cup while the varsity four boats placed third at the Metro Cup and fourth at the Stonehurst Regatta. In his first season in 2001-02, Wieler guided UB's varsity eight to a bronze medal and the varsity four to a fourth-place finish at the New York State Championships. Buffalo's varsity eight entry also took first place at the SUNY Championships while the varsity four placed third overall.

A native of St. Catharines, Ontario, Wieler has world class coaching experience highlighted by guiding 14 crews to international competition finals. He served as head coach of the Canadian National Women's team from 1980 to 1984. Wieler's Canadian women's four squad captured a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Internationally, his rowers also won a gold and three bronze medals at the World Championships and a gold in the Commonwealth Games. He has also been a two-time coach of the Ontario squad at the Canada Games, in 1997 and 2001. At the 2001 games, his 12 crews won seven gold and five silver medals. In 1979, Wieler was honored with the Air Canada Award as Canadian Coach of the Year among all sports.

Prior to coming to UB, Wieler also coached at several Canadian high schools for 31 years. Under his command, his teams medalled in each year of his tenure, and 15 of his squads captured the overall points championships. More than 60 of his high school rowers received athletic scholarships in the United States. Wieler also has collegiate coaching experience in the United States, serving as freshman coach at Pennsylvania from 1975 to 1976.

A 1967 graduate of Western Ontario and 1991 master's degree recipient from Brock, Wieler is a fully-certified Level III coach in Canada. He replaces Meg Barnes, UB's head coach for the past four seasons, who decided to leave the coaching ranks at the conclusion of the 2002-03 school year to pursue other interests.

"After an extensive coaching career, I feel honored to accept this position, which in a sense completes the portfolio of so many opportunities I have had as a head coach in the sport of rowing," said Wieler. "UB is on the threshold of greatness, and I relish the challenge of fulfilling the aspirations and dreams of the scholar-athletes who are attending UB and who will chose to attend UB as we move into the future."