Temple University Athletics
Men's Crew
White, Dr. Gavin R.
Dr. Gavin R. White
- Title:
- Coach Emeritus
After serving 37 years as the head coach of Temple men's crew, Dr. Gavin R. White moved into the Coach Emeritus role following the 2016 season.
Under his guidance, Temple crew has achieved distinction both nationally and internationally. His boats have won 20 Dad Vail Regatta Varsity 8 titles, including an impressive 13 consecutive titles from 1989-2001. White has also led the Owls to seven invitations to Great Britain's premiere regatta, the renowned Royal Henley Regatta (1983-86, 1989, 1990, 1994). In Temple's seven appearances, White’s crews qualified to the grand final once (1984) and into the quarterfinals four times (1985, 1990, 1993, 1994).
After serving as an assistant for three seasons, White became only the second head coach in Temple crew history. He succeeded Tom "Bear" Curran in 1979 and has been the men's coach ever since, with the exception of the 1984-85 season when he took a sabbatical to work on a doctoral degree, which he received from Temple in 1986.
Honored as the 2003 Schuylkill Navy Coach of the Year, White coached the men's four at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, where his crew finished fifth in the finals. A five-time U.S. National Rowing Team coach, White also coached the men's pair with coxswain to the gold medal at the 2003 FISA World Rowing Championships in Milan, Italy.
Many of White's Temple rowers have gone on to success in international competition. Oarsman Igor Francetic, 1996 Nation's Cup Champion for Croatia, earned a gold medal at the Senior "B" World Championships in 1997. Francetic captured the gold for Croatia in the Under-23 World Championships during the summer of 1999. Francetic earned a bronze medal as a member of the Croatian Men's Eight in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He was also a member of the Croatian Men's Eight that captured gold at World Cup Munich 2000. Jason Read was also a member of that 1997 U.S. Nation's Cup squad. Read then earned a silver medal at the 1998 U.S. Nation's Cup in Greece and a gold medal at the Under-23 World Championships in Hamburg, Germany. He also picked up a silver medal at the 2003 World Rowing Championships. Chris Kerber, a 1992 graduate, was a world champion in 1993 and again in 2000; and Scott Brodie, a 1994 graduate, was a member of the Canadian Olympic Eight in Atlanta.
Before taking his talents to the shores as a coach, White was a member of the Temple University crew for three years (1971-73), graduating with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. As a senior he was honored with the Club's Most Valuable Rower Award. White was also a member of the Temple basketball team as a freshman during the 1969-70 season. After Temple, White went on to receive a master's degree in physical education from the University of Maryland.
In 1985, White was inducted into the Temple Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2016 he was honored as the USRowing Man of the Year. The son of retired Temple Athletic Director, Gavin White, Jr., he resides in Abington, Pa., with his wife, Jane and their two children, Elizabeth and Gavin Michael.
Under his guidance, Temple crew has achieved distinction both nationally and internationally. His boats have won 20 Dad Vail Regatta Varsity 8 titles, including an impressive 13 consecutive titles from 1989-2001. White has also led the Owls to seven invitations to Great Britain's premiere regatta, the renowned Royal Henley Regatta (1983-86, 1989, 1990, 1994). In Temple's seven appearances, White’s crews qualified to the grand final once (1984) and into the quarterfinals four times (1985, 1990, 1993, 1994).
After serving as an assistant for three seasons, White became only the second head coach in Temple crew history. He succeeded Tom "Bear" Curran in 1979 and has been the men's coach ever since, with the exception of the 1984-85 season when he took a sabbatical to work on a doctoral degree, which he received from Temple in 1986.
Honored as the 2003 Schuylkill Navy Coach of the Year, White coached the men's four at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, where his crew finished fifth in the finals. A five-time U.S. National Rowing Team coach, White also coached the men's pair with coxswain to the gold medal at the 2003 FISA World Rowing Championships in Milan, Italy.
Many of White's Temple rowers have gone on to success in international competition. Oarsman Igor Francetic, 1996 Nation's Cup Champion for Croatia, earned a gold medal at the Senior "B" World Championships in 1997. Francetic captured the gold for Croatia in the Under-23 World Championships during the summer of 1999. Francetic earned a bronze medal as a member of the Croatian Men's Eight in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He was also a member of the Croatian Men's Eight that captured gold at World Cup Munich 2000. Jason Read was also a member of that 1997 U.S. Nation's Cup squad. Read then earned a silver medal at the 1998 U.S. Nation's Cup in Greece and a gold medal at the Under-23 World Championships in Hamburg, Germany. He also picked up a silver medal at the 2003 World Rowing Championships. Chris Kerber, a 1992 graduate, was a world champion in 1993 and again in 2000; and Scott Brodie, a 1994 graduate, was a member of the Canadian Olympic Eight in Atlanta.
Before taking his talents to the shores as a coach, White was a member of the Temple University crew for three years (1971-73), graduating with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. As a senior he was honored with the Club's Most Valuable Rower Award. White was also a member of the Temple basketball team as a freshman during the 1969-70 season. After Temple, White went on to receive a master's degree in physical education from the University of Maryland.
In 1985, White was inducted into the Temple Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2016 he was honored as the USRowing Man of the Year. The son of retired Temple Athletic Director, Gavin White, Jr., he resides in Abington, Pa., with his wife, Jane and their two children, Elizabeth and Gavin Michael.
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