Temple University Athletics
Men's Crew
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- brian.perkins@temple.edu
- Phone:
- 267-307-2863
Brian Perkins, a two-time Dad Vail champion rower for the Owls, was named the head coach of Temple Men's Crew in June of 2016. He was promoted following the retirement of legendary coach Dr. Gavin White. Perkins previously spent seven seasons as the assistant coach and principal recruiter for his alma mater.
As an assistant coach, Perkins guided the 2010 and 2012 Freshman 4 to Dad Vail gold medals, the 2011 Lightweight 4 to a silver, and in Coach White’s final year helped get the Varsity 8 back onto the podium with a bronze medal in 2016.
Since Perkins took over as head coach, Temple is once again climbing the national rankings and has won two of the last three Dad Vail Regattas. In 2018, the Freshman 8, 2nd Varsity 8, and the Varsity 8 earned Dad Vail Gold Medals. The 2018 Varsity 8 winning time was a Dad Vail record (only to be broken by the 2021 Temple Varsity 8).
Since doubling the size of the squad in 2014-15, the team’s depth has become a strength. In 2019 and 2021, every single member of Temple Crew made a Dad Vail Grand Final. In 2021, Temple captured the Dad Vail Men’s Point Trophy for the first time in school history by winning the Freshman 8, Lightweight 4, and Varsity 8 and medaling & placing in every other event. The ’21 Varsity 8 was undefeated during the regular season and ranked as high as 8th in the national polls.
The squad’s success on the river is matched only by their advances in the classroom: the Team GPA has risen steadily and as of Spring 2022 the men have the highest cumulative GPA in team history.
Like Coach White before him, Perkins is also a Temple alum. Perkins came to the Owls from nearby Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School, where he was a team captain and scholastic national champion & Henley Royal Regatta competitor in 1988.
While at Temple, Perkins graduated cum laude, earning two bachelor degrees (History and Political Science) and went on to get a Masters (History). In addition to the two Dad Vail gold medals, he again competed at Henley, served as team captain his senior year, was twice awarded the Sean Brennan Dedication Award, and earned the Gavin White Academic Award in 1992. Perkins also has an Education degree from St. Joseph’s University and was named Schuylkill Navy Coach of the Year in 2018.
Originally from South Philly, Perkins currently lives in East Falls with his wife Susan and a pug named Jack.
