Experience is a key asset for an assistant coach in any sport, and in new women's crew coach Anne Kakela, Penn's team will learn from a recognized Pacific-10 coach and a former Olympic rower.
Announced as new head coach Mike Lane's assistant yesterday, Kakela comes from Oregon State, where she was an assistant from 2003-06.
With the Beavers she won two Pac-10 championship medals, and in 2005 was named Northwest Region CRCA Assistant Coach of the Year.
Perhaps more noteworthy, Kakela rowed with the U.S. National Rowing Team for four years. In 1995 her team took the gold medal at the World Championships in Tampere, Finland. One year later the 1992 Dartmouth grad competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics, grabbing fourth place in Atlanta.
Kakela fills the assistant spot that was vacated by Lane, who replaced Barb Grudt at the head of the women's team.
