Stan Bergman, the men's heavyweight crew coach for the past 22 seasons, will still play a heavy role in the team despite his resignation last month.
Bergman, whose resignation is effective July 1, will serve as the director of rowing affairs.
In addition to his role as coach, Bergman has been director of men's and women's rowing for the past seven years. It isn't entirely clear how this part of his job will change.
He will continue to represent Penn rowing at Intercollegiate Rowing Association and Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges functions, a role he has held in the past in addition to his coaching duties.
"I think this will free him up to be our representative on a more full-time basis," athletic department spokesman Mike Mahoney said.
One of Bergman's main duties as director of rowing affairs will be to work with the developmental staff to reach out to alumni.
Additionally, he will be in charge of coordinating facilities for the rowing program.
The directorship of rowing affairs is a newly created position at Penn, and according to Mahoney, wasn't created to fill a previously unsatisfied need.
"It was created specifically with Stan in mind," Mahoney said, adding that the decision was made within the last month or so.
There hasn't been progress yet in the search for a new head coach, according to Mahoney.
Bergman was reportedly forced to resign as coach, but Mahoney said that he believed the agreement between the athletic department and Bergman was mutual. Still, not all parties involved are happy with the decision.
"The team wishes that he could still be the head coach, but this is better than him not being around at all," senior heavyweight rowing captain Nathaniel Allen said. "I know that coach Bergman will find a way to make this a productive and positive position."
Bergman -- who was not immediately able to be reached for comment -- will likely continue to have contact with the members of the team even though this will no longer be his main job function.
"That's going to be up to him because it's a new position," Mahoney said. "By no means is he being banished from anywhere."
Men's heavyweight rowing assistant coach Seth Brennan said he expects Bergman to remain involved with the team directly.
"I'm sure he will because that's what he wants to do," Brennan said.
Regardless of how much of a presence Bergman has in the boathouse, some say he will still be an invaluable resource to the team.
"So long as he's around, the rowers are going to seek him out and find him," Allen said.
Many involved in the rowing program expressed relief that Bergman will remain at Penn after he finishes coaching, albeit in a different role.
"I think it's great that he's staying around," Brennan said. "It would be a pretty different place without him, and I'm glad they recognized that and addressed it."
But not everyone feels that the transition was conducted in the best way possible.
"It's a shame that the situation got handled in the manner that it did by the athletic department," senior heavyweight coxswain T.J. Massey said. "But I'm glad that coach Bergman will be around next year to help carry on the tradition."
