Carrol “Ky” Ebright
1924 - 1959
The Cal men’s crew began its dominance of national and international rowing in earnest in 1924 with the hiring of Carrol “Ky” Ebright as head coach. Over Ebright’s leadership of 36 years, Cal crew became synonymous with Olympic gold medals and national collegiate championships. Ebright’s crews also won a total of six Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) championships. In fact, some argue that Ebright's 1939 IRA champion might have been the fastest of all of Cal’s fine crews: it had little trouble with its collegiate competitors, defeating Washington by 12 lengths before going on to set the still-standing four-mile course record at the IRA.
Jim Lemmon
1960 - 1966
Jim Lemmon moved up from frosh coach taking over the reins from Ebright in 1960 and in his seven years as head coach strung together an impressive streak, winning three IRA championships and two Pacific Coast championships. Lemmon's 1964 crew also earned bragging rights as one of California’s finest, going through the regular season and the IRA without a loss.
Marty McNair
1967 - 1972
Steve Gladstone
1973 - 1980
1997 - 2008
Cal won its next IRA title in 1976, during Steve Gladstone’s first turn at the helm from 1973-80. Cal also won the 1979 Pacific Coast championship, as the Bears dominated West Coast rowing and earned a spot in the semifinals of the Grand Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in England. Cal’s current frosh coach, Craig Amerkhanian, was a stalwart in that crew. Gladstone returned for a second stint coaching the Bears in 1997 after many successful seasons at Brown. Charged with returning Cal men’s crew to the upper echelon of collegiate rowing, Gladstone wasted no time. The varsity earned an IRA bronze in ’97 and ’98 and then won four straight IRA gold finishes in 1999 through 2002, including undefeated seasons in ’99 and 2000.
Mike Livingston
1981 - 1983
Mike Livingston became head coach in 1981 and directed the Bears for three years. His 1982 crew was outstanding. It defeated every top crew in the country in scoring victories in the San Diego Crew Classic and Pacific Coast Championships while earning Cal a berth in the semifinals of the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley.
Tim Hodges (Far Right)
Tim Hodges
1984 - 1987
In 1984, Tim Hodges, Cal’s stroke in 1974 and ’75, stepped up from freshman coach to lead the varsity. He guided the Bears to dual race victories over Washington in his final three seasons, 1985-87. Hodges’ 1986 crew was one of the country's best, as it defeated eventual national champion Wisconsin en route to the Bears victory in the inaugural Redwood Shores Classic and then easily won the Pacific Coast championship. In 1988, Bruce Beall in his first year with the reins guided California to its fourth consecutive dual race victory over Washington.
Bruce Beall
1988 - 1991
Mark Zembsch
1992 - 1996
Mark Zembsch, a 1982 graduate of Cal, took his turn at the helm of program in 1992 after two years of coaching Cal freshmen squads. The Bears showed improvement, winning the ’92 traditional cup race over Washington in both the varsity and junior varsity events. In 1995, after three years of rebuilding, the Bears had their best season in nine years, ending in a sixth-place finish at the national championships.
Mike Teti
2009 - 2018
Mike Teti served as Head Coach for the Bears for 10 years between 2009 and 2018. After coaching the US National Team for twelve years, highlighted by an Olympic gold medal, he continued to coach winning crews at Cal capturing eight PAC-12 titles, five IRA gold medals, and wins at Henley Royal Regatta in the Ladies’ Plate, Visitors’ Challenge Cup and Temple Challenge Cup. After the 2018 season, Coach Teti returned to his position as the US Men’s eight coach.