Meet the Coaching Staff

Over the years these individuals have coached the women's crews:

Joel Ristuccia '72, Nathaniel Case '70, the program's most successful coach, Chris Ernst, Carol Bower, MaryBeth Brown, Willie Black Wendy Davis, Chris Wilson and Dana Remus.

Jump To:
• Will Porter

• Pasha Spencer

• Wes Ng

• Tom Taft

Head Coach
Will Porter

william.porter@yale.edu

(203) 432-1412

P.O. Box 208216

New Haven, CT. 06520
Hometown: Guilford, CT
College: Rutgers University, BA in English and economics

"There are no obstacles in the way to success at Yale. You can combine great academics and great athletics."

Will has been involved in rowing for 19 years. Will’s career as a national team oarsman was highlighted by a silver medal race in the 4- at the Pan American Games in 1991 and a bronze medal performance in the 8+ at the World Championships in 1993. Will successfully coached at Stanford University, Rutgers University and Dartmouth College before he came to Yale as the novice women's coach in 1997. In his first year at Yale, the novice women finished 4th at the EAWRC Sprints. In Will's second year at Yale, both the first (8-1) and second novice crews (5-2) took bronze medals at the EAWRC Sprints. In 1999 Will was named Head Coach of the Yale Women's Crew. He took the varsity from the third level finals at the EAWRC Sprints to the grand finals in one season. In the 99-00 season the Yale Varsity raced to a regular season record of 7-3, finished 6th at the EAWRC Sprints and qualified for the N.C.A.A. Championship.2001 brought more of the same, a 6-3 record an EAWRC Sprints final and an NCAA invite. In 2002 the Yale varsity raced to a 7-2 record and a silver medal at the Sprints, the second varsity raced to a 7-2 record and a bronze medal. Yale qualified for the NCAA Championship and finished tied for 5th as a team. Porter was voted New England Coach of the Year by the College Rowing Coaches Association. Will’s crews have won medals at the Eastern Sprints Championships, and N.C.A.A. championship. In addition his teams have won the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship and Women's Henley. Under Porter Yale has qualified for the N.C.A.A. Championship for the past 4 years in a row.

At Yale Will has coached:

4 USA Senior National Team athletes.

9 Nation's Cup Camp athletes.

10 All New-England athletes.

4 First Team All-American.

4 Second Team All American athletes.

1 Verizon Academic All-American.

6 Academic All Americans.

3 Academic All-Ivy Athletes

Will resides in Guilford CT with his wife Mia and daughter Case and son William
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First Assistant
Kate Maloney

(203) 432-1411

P.O. Box 208216

New Haven, CT. 06520
Hometown: Seattle, WA
College: University of Washington- B.A. Art History

Kate started rowing in 1992 for Mt. Baker Rowing in Seattle. The next year she enrolled at the University of Washington and started an impressive string of 4 undefeated regular seasons and four Pac-10 Championships with the Huskies. Paralleling her collegiate rowing success Kate spent her summers rowing with the USA National Team racing at the Nations Cup Regatta. In 1995 she won a bronze in the pair at Groningen NED, in 1996 she won a gold in the straight four at Hazewinkel Bel. Upon graduation from UW Kate moved on to the USA Senior National Team and began racing at the World Championships. In 1997 she raced in the 4-, in 1998 she was in the USA 8+ that won a silver in Colonge Germany, in 1999 again she won a silver with the USA 8+ in St. Catharines ONT. Finally, Kate finished her competitive racing career at the Sydney 2000 Olympics where she rowed in the USA 8+.

Kate has coached rowing at every level from high school, college to masters. She started coaching at ZLAC in San Diego and has since coached at CRI and Northeastern University in Boston. At Northeastern in 2002-2003 Kate was the second assistant working mostly with the third varsity. Most recently Kate was coaching at Lake Union Crew in Seattle. At Yale Kate is the recruiting coordinator and works mostly with the novice women.

Assistant Coach
Aaron Kaufman
Hometown: Albany NY.
College: Univ of Albany,

Aaron a 1994 graduate of the University of Albany brings over a decade of rowing knowledge with him to Yale. Upon graduation from Albany Aaron trained at NYAC where he is seven time national champion in various lightweight crews. Aaron has coached both at the high school level and collegiate level working with Shaker high school and Iona college respectively. Aaron and his wife Joanne live in Norwalk, CT with there two dogs Lilly and Acadia.

Boatman Tom Taft

Tom, our illustrious boatman, fixes anything and everything that we break. He responds with creativity and clarity to every boating problem that confronts him. According to his biggest fan, "Tom is the premiere boatman in the world, he gets it done".

When not following the migration patterns of the Purple Martin Birds, Tom's other hobbies included reading renaissance lyric poetry, racing monster trucks and importing strong Cuban cigars.

Hometown: Exeter, NH.
College: Williams College, BA English