Temple University Athletics
Women's Rowing Adds Ritchie and Rorer as Assistants
9.27.16 | Women's Rowing
PHILADELPHIA -- Temple women's rowing head coach Rebecca Smith Grzybowski has announced the hiring of Nicole Ritchie and Julia Rorer as graduate assistant coaches for the program.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Nicole and Julia to our staff and to our team," said Grzybowski. "I've known them both for a while - having trained with Nicole at the beginning of her elite rowing career, and having interacted with Julia in a coaching role at regattas over the years. They are experienced coaches with proven success. They understand and appreciate the culture and energy of Temple Women's Rowing and I can't wait to watch them make an impact with us this year!"
Nicole Ritchie is an accomplished rower and junior coach that is no stranger to the Philadelphia area. She has coached local youth rowers for the past six years, working at both Philadelphia City Rowing and at Bachelors Barge Club.
Ritchie served as the high school program head coach at Bachelors Barge Club, establishing a land-based and on-the-water training plan. She also coordinated a winter training program to develop a group of Philadelphia area high school athletes.
With Philadelphia City Rowing, Ritchie served as an assistant, and moved on to become as the varsity women's coach. There, she planned and coached rowing practices for fall, winter, and spring competitive seasons, as well as learn-to-row summer sessions. She assisted with recruiting new athletes and coordinating academic tutoring programs.
Ritchie has an international and national success as a rower. In 2015, she won silver medals in both the W2x and W4x events at the Pan American Championships. She finished second in the U.S. at the 2016 Olympic Trials and was also named the 2016 Schuylkill Navy Female Athlete of the Year.
A 2009 graduate of Bates College, Ritchie left the Bobcat program as one of the most decorated rowers in program history. She was a three-time first-team All-American, and is still the only Bates rower to ever earn that distinction.
Ritchie led the Bobcats to two NCAA National Championships and a runner-up finish. A team captain for both the Bates rowing and nordic ski teams, she has a degree in environmental chemistry.
Julia Rorer is a certified USRowing Level III coach, that has experience at both the collegiate and club rowing levels.
Most recently, she served as an assistant coach at Rutgers University, working with the novice program. Rorer's novice crew took bronze at the 2016 Murphy Cup, and also advanced to the grand finals competing in the 3V category at the 2016 Eastern Sprints.
While at Rutgers, she was also responsible for organizing travel, gear, purchasing requests, boat repairs and many other administrative areas. Additionally, Rorer administered the Johnson & Johnson Corporate Rowing Program, organizing and coaching their Inaugural Fall Head Race (Fall 2015)
Rorer also spent two years as the head women's rowing coach at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia. She led the team to numerous wins in 2014, including a V4x Gold at the Steve Neczypor Memorial Regatta, a JV2x Gold at the Cooper Cup and a JV 2x Gold at the Philadelphia City Championships.
In 2012, Rorer taught masters and novice technique at the Philadelphia Girls Rowing Club and served as the assistant varsity and JV rowing coach at The Agnes Irwin School. Her prior head coaching experience includes working as the head novice rowing coach for the men's and women's team at Moorestown Rowing Club in 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Rorer began her career as a rowing coach in 2007, when she worked as a volunteer assistant at Chestnut Hill Academy. Rorer earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 2011 from Temple University, where she studied Elementary and Early Childhood Education.
Rorer rowed all four years of her high school career at Springside School and competed for a year at Washington College in Chestertown, Md., before having her career cut short due to a shoulder injury. She has since returned to the water, competing as a masters rower as a member of The University Barge Club on Boathouse Row in Philadelphia.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Nicole and Julia to our staff and to our team," said Grzybowski. "I've known them both for a while - having trained with Nicole at the beginning of her elite rowing career, and having interacted with Julia in a coaching role at regattas over the years. They are experienced coaches with proven success. They understand and appreciate the culture and energy of Temple Women's Rowing and I can't wait to watch them make an impact with us this year!"
Nicole Ritchie is an accomplished rower and junior coach that is no stranger to the Philadelphia area. She has coached local youth rowers for the past six years, working at both Philadelphia City Rowing and at Bachelors Barge Club.
Ritchie served as the high school program head coach at Bachelors Barge Club, establishing a land-based and on-the-water training plan. She also coordinated a winter training program to develop a group of Philadelphia area high school athletes.
With Philadelphia City Rowing, Ritchie served as an assistant, and moved on to become as the varsity women's coach. There, she planned and coached rowing practices for fall, winter, and spring competitive seasons, as well as learn-to-row summer sessions. She assisted with recruiting new athletes and coordinating academic tutoring programs.
Ritchie has an international and national success as a rower. In 2015, she won silver medals in both the W2x and W4x events at the Pan American Championships. She finished second in the U.S. at the 2016 Olympic Trials and was also named the 2016 Schuylkill Navy Female Athlete of the Year.
A 2009 graduate of Bates College, Ritchie left the Bobcat program as one of the most decorated rowers in program history. She was a three-time first-team All-American, and is still the only Bates rower to ever earn that distinction.
Ritchie led the Bobcats to two NCAA National Championships and a runner-up finish. A team captain for both the Bates rowing and nordic ski teams, she has a degree in environmental chemistry.
Julia Rorer is a certified USRowing Level III coach, that has experience at both the collegiate and club rowing levels.
Most recently, she served as an assistant coach at Rutgers University, working with the novice program. Rorer's novice crew took bronze at the 2016 Murphy Cup, and also advanced to the grand finals competing in the 3V category at the 2016 Eastern Sprints.
While at Rutgers, she was also responsible for organizing travel, gear, purchasing requests, boat repairs and many other administrative areas. Additionally, Rorer administered the Johnson & Johnson Corporate Rowing Program, organizing and coaching their Inaugural Fall Head Race (Fall 2015)
Rorer also spent two years as the head women's rowing coach at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia. She led the team to numerous wins in 2014, including a V4x Gold at the Steve Neczypor Memorial Regatta, a JV2x Gold at the Cooper Cup and a JV 2x Gold at the Philadelphia City Championships.
In 2012, Rorer taught masters and novice technique at the Philadelphia Girls Rowing Club and served as the assistant varsity and JV rowing coach at The Agnes Irwin School. Her prior head coaching experience includes working as the head novice rowing coach for the men's and women's team at Moorestown Rowing Club in 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Rorer began her career as a rowing coach in 2007, when she worked as a volunteer assistant at Chestnut Hill Academy. Rorer earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 2011 from Temple University, where she studied Elementary and Early Childhood Education.
Rorer rowed all four years of her high school career at Springside School and competed for a year at Washington College in Chestertown, Md., before having her career cut short due to a shoulder injury. She has since returned to the water, competing as a masters rower as a member of The University Barge Club on Boathouse Row in Philadelphia.
Ep. 30: First Episode of 2026!
Tuesday, January 13
MBB Press Conference vs. ECU (Adam Fisher)
Thursday, January 08
Temple Men's Basketball 2025-26 All Access | Game 15 vs UTSA 1.03.2026
Tuesday, January 06
MBB Press Conference vs.UTSA (Adam Fisher, Gavin Griffiths, Jordan Mason)
Sunday, January 04
