WORCESTER, Mass. (October 4, 2024) – Assumption University Director of Athletics
Eric Gobiel announced that Heather Holloway-Leaver was hired as the new Head Women's Rowing Head Coach.
"I am pleased to announce Heather as our head rowing coach," stated Gobiel. "She brings a variety of coaching and leadership experience with her, having led multiple programs across different age groups and divisions. That experience and her tremendous passion for the sport and leading student-athletes made her the ideal candidate to lead our program in the years to come."
Holloway-Leaver comes to Assumption after spending the last year as the Head Coach of the Quinsigamond Rowing Club.
"I'm thrilled and grateful to join the community at Assumption University," said Holloway-Leaver. "I couldn't have imagined a more generous administration led by Athletic Director Eric Gobiel, who is invested in the advancement of others. I look forward to guiding our diligent and dedicated rowers and coxswains to reach their team and individual goals and develop their leadership skills."
Coach Heather feels it's imperative to study and practice coaching every day and in many different settings to gain versatility and excel. She continues as Head Coach at Quinsigamond Rowing Club Competitive Women's Team, where the 60+ 4+ medaled bronze in 2023, and both this crew and the 50+4+ gained the honor of guaranteed entries into HOCR 2024, proving that Crew is a sport for a lifetime! She continues as Asst. Coach of Boys Crew at St. Mark's School. During her time at St. Mark's School, all eligible crews coached by Coach Heather qualified for (NEIRA) New England Interscholastic Rowing Association High School championship regatta. Many rowers had never rowed before their winning season!
Heather is a US Rowing Assistant Referee, umpiring at regattas all over the Northeast, such as the MAAC Women's Rowing Championships, Patriot League Rowing Championships, Ivy League Women's Rowing Championship, and the Collegiate Round Robin sprint series in the spring. She is also a sculler and sits on the Board at Worcester Boat Club on Lake Quinsigamond.
She is enthusiastic about developing transferable life skills through the sport of rowing. "In Crew, we are truly a team, and we understand that no rower is more important than any other in the boat. (Try to row the boat without one!) Everyone gets up early, pulls their weight, puts in the work knowing it will be hard, accepts coaching, and has shared goals. The goals are often filled with glory, like a podium visit at the Head of the Charles. Ultimately, though, rowers grow, earn, and fully own their values in the crew, and that's what we're here for."
ABOUT ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY
Assumption University, founded in 1904 by the Augustinians of the Assumption, is New England's premier university for high-quality education, integrating career preparation and education of the whole person, drawing upon the best in the rich and centuries-long tradition of Catholic higher education. Assumption, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, seeks to provide students with a transformative education that forms graduates with critical intelligence, thoughtful citizenship, and compassionate service. The University offers 34 majors and 49 minors in the liberal arts, sciences, business, nursing, and professional studies, as well as graduate degrees and professional certificate programs. For more information about Assumption University, please visit
www.assumption.edu.
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