LIU Athletics Director
Dr. William E. Martinov Jr. announced in July of 2021 that the University has selected Jaclyn Smith to lead the newly added rowing programs. A Paralympian and a World Rowing Champion, Smith comes to LIU after seven seasons as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart, and will serve as the head coach of both men's and women's rowing.
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"I am pleased to welcome Jaclyn as the first head coach of our rowing programs," Martinov said. "She is a decorated rower, an Olympic medalist and a World Champion. We are thrilled to have her build two of our newest teams, and can't wait to what she achieves as a member of our Shark family!"
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Smith is a two-time World Rowing champion and world record holder in the PR3 women's pair. A member of the United States Para National Team from 2013-2020, she won a silver medal in 2016 in the LTA 4+ in Rio de Janeiro. She has medaled three times in the LTA 4+ at the World Rowing championships, is a four-time Head of the Charles champion, and was the 2015 C.R.A.S.H. B's Indoor World Rowing Champion.
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"It's an honor to be named LIU's first rowing coach!" Smith said. "I am excited to be joining Shark nation and begin building both a strong men and women's rowing program. It has already been a pleasure getting to know Dr. Martinov, Mr. Lloyd Ribner, and Ms.
Deirdre Moore, and I am looking forward to getting to work with all of LIU's other support staff, faculty, and student-athletes. Fins up, go Sharks!"
Smith began her rowing career in 2007 at Our Lady of Mercy Academy, where she earned a 2010 NYS Silver medal in the junior 4+, and placed sixth at US Rowing Youth Nationals. She went on to row at Sacred Heart University where she went undefeated her entire collegiate career in the MAAC conference in the women's varsity pair. Smith won their program's first and only Dad Vail Regatta medal in 2015. She was named the program's assistant coach in 2015, after graduating, and spent the first seven years of her coaching career there.
