Temple University Athletics
Alyssa O'Donnell
Alyssa O'Donnell Named Assistant Coach for Temple Women's Rowing
8.25.14 | Women's Rowing
PHILADELPHIA - Alyssa O'Donnell has been named an assistant coach for Temple women's rowing, as announced by head coach Rebecca Smith Grzybowski on Monday. O'Donnell comes to Temple after spending the past two years with the Grand Valley State University Rowing Club where she served as the varsity assistant coach while also completing her master's degree.
"From the moment I met Alyssa, I could feel her passion for coaching and I know that she will be a difference maker for this program" said Grzybowski. "She has a solid understanding of the vision that we have for Temple Women's Rowing and her dynamic energy and leadership experience will be a great addition to the team."
O'Donnell is a 2011 CRCA All-American First Team member and a US Rowing Level II Coach. Prior to being hired at Temple, she was already familiarizing herself with the Schuylkill River by coaching with the highly competitive Vesper Boat Club summer program in 2014.
"I'm thrilled to be part of Temple Athletics at such a pivotal time," said O'Donnell. "The newfound funding and facilities for women's rowing gives us all the resources we need to take this program to new levels of success. I'm excited to be part of the Owls' staff and add to the history of rowing on the Schuylkill River."
At GVSU, O'Donnell played a pivotal role in continuing the long-standing success of the Laker Navy. In the 2013-14 season, she assisted in coaching the Grand Valley women to a gold medal at the Head of the Charles in the Collegiate Eight event, bronze medals in the 1st and 2nd Varsity Eights at the Dad Vail Regatta, and a sweep of every varsity event entered at the ACRA National Championships.
The 2012-13 season saw similar successes with a 2013 Dad Vail gold medal for Varsity Eight and a Women's Points trophy. Other highlights of the 2013 spring included a trip to Henley-on-the-Thames where Grand Valley raced all the way to the Grand Final of the Women's Henley Regatta, finishing second only to Oxford University. While coaching at GVSU, O'Donnell earned her master's degree in communication.
O'Donnell started her coaching career with Saratoga Rowing Association and has also coached at Pine Crest High School and University School, both in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Most recently, she spent time coaching on Philadelphia's Boathouse Row as head coach of the Vesper Boat Club Junior Women's summer program. O'Donnell brought the program to new levels of competitive success, highlighted by a fifth-place finish in the Junior Women's 1x at the 2014 Royal Canadian Henley Regatta.
O'Donnell, an upstate New York native, began rowing at Saratoga Rowing Association. Her collegiate career took her south to Fort Lauderdale where she competed for the Sharks of Nova Southeastern University while earning a bachelors degree in exercise and sports science and an associates degree in psychology. At NSU, O'Donnell was named to the Sunshine State All-Conference Team in 2010 and 2011, nominated for Female Athlete of the Year in 2011 and won the Sunshine State Conference title in 2011 and 2012. In 2011 she stroked the Sharks to a fourth place finish at the NCAA National Championships.
O'Donnell resides in Philadelphia.
"From the moment I met Alyssa, I could feel her passion for coaching and I know that she will be a difference maker for this program" said Grzybowski. "She has a solid understanding of the vision that we have for Temple Women's Rowing and her dynamic energy and leadership experience will be a great addition to the team."
O'Donnell is a 2011 CRCA All-American First Team member and a US Rowing Level II Coach. Prior to being hired at Temple, she was already familiarizing herself with the Schuylkill River by coaching with the highly competitive Vesper Boat Club summer program in 2014.
"I'm thrilled to be part of Temple Athletics at such a pivotal time," said O'Donnell. "The newfound funding and facilities for women's rowing gives us all the resources we need to take this program to new levels of success. I'm excited to be part of the Owls' staff and add to the history of rowing on the Schuylkill River."
At GVSU, O'Donnell played a pivotal role in continuing the long-standing success of the Laker Navy. In the 2013-14 season, she assisted in coaching the Grand Valley women to a gold medal at the Head of the Charles in the Collegiate Eight event, bronze medals in the 1st and 2nd Varsity Eights at the Dad Vail Regatta, and a sweep of every varsity event entered at the ACRA National Championships.
The 2012-13 season saw similar successes with a 2013 Dad Vail gold medal for Varsity Eight and a Women's Points trophy. Other highlights of the 2013 spring included a trip to Henley-on-the-Thames where Grand Valley raced all the way to the Grand Final of the Women's Henley Regatta, finishing second only to Oxford University. While coaching at GVSU, O'Donnell earned her master's degree in communication.
O'Donnell started her coaching career with Saratoga Rowing Association and has also coached at Pine Crest High School and University School, both in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Most recently, she spent time coaching on Philadelphia's Boathouse Row as head coach of the Vesper Boat Club Junior Women's summer program. O'Donnell brought the program to new levels of competitive success, highlighted by a fifth-place finish in the Junior Women's 1x at the 2014 Royal Canadian Henley Regatta.
O'Donnell, an upstate New York native, began rowing at Saratoga Rowing Association. Her collegiate career took her south to Fort Lauderdale where she competed for the Sharks of Nova Southeastern University while earning a bachelors degree in exercise and sports science and an associates degree in psychology. At NSU, O'Donnell was named to the Sunshine State All-Conference Team in 2010 and 2011, nominated for Female Athlete of the Year in 2011 and won the Sunshine State Conference title in 2011 and 2012. In 2011 she stroked the Sharks to a fourth place finish at the NCAA National Championships.
O'Donnell resides in Philadelphia.
Ep. 29: Last Episode of First Semester from David & Amelia
Wednesday, December 17
MBB Press Conference vs. Saint Francis (Adam Fisher)
Sunday, December 14
MBB Press Conference vs. Saint Francis (Derrian Ford & Gavin Griffiths)
Sunday, December 14
Ep. 28: Vice President/Debbie & Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson
Friday, December 12
