SAN DIEGO – The University of San Diego women's rowing program will be under new leadership starting in 2019-20 as Stesha Carlé, an assistant coach with the program the last two years, was elevated to head coach of the women's team, Associate Vice President / Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis announced. 
 
Carlé takes over USD women's rowing after Sarah Trowbridge, the Toreros' head coach for the last two years, resigned to join her family on the East Coast. Trowbridge's husband, Bryan Volpenhein, was recently named the head men's rowing coach at Penn. 
 
"Sarah Trowbridge is an amazing coach and leader, and she did an outstanding job in building a new foundation for success in women's rowing at USD," said McGillis. "Coach Trowbridge will depart having left a legacy of integrity, values, passion, toughness and competitiveness that will result in championship success for our program. We wish her and Bryan the very best for their futures.
 
"I also knew from the get-go that the next and right head coach was already on our campus. Stesha Carlé is uniquely positioned to lead our program forward, and I've never been more confident in elevating an assistant coach to the head coach role. Coach Carlé has made immense contributions to our program over the last two years, while serving as our top assistant. She brings an excellent background as a world-class rower and terrific coach to her new position. Coach Carlé is a ferocious competitor and a strong, positive and inspirational leader who is committed to our vision of Winning in the Classroom, Winning on the Playing Field and Winning in the Community. I fully expect our women's rowing program to continue its climb to national prominence under her leadership."
 
After a decorated four-year collegiate rowing career at Michigan, Carlé competed with the U.S. National Team and won six medals, including three silvers at the world championships: one in the W4- in 2008 and two in the W4x in 2009 and 2011. Her silver medals in 2009 and 2011 were at the time the highest the United States had ever finished in the event. She went on to capture gold medals in the W1x, W2x and W4x in the 2014 National Championships.
 
Using her seven-year national team experience, she was also a runner-up at the Olympic Trials in 2016 in the W1x.
 
While rowing with the nationally-ranked Michigan program, Carlé helped the Varsity 8 to a second place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2003 as well as third place finishes in 2004. As a team, Michigan finished in the top-four in 2003 and 2004, lifted by Carlé and the Varsity 8's performances. In addition to her time as a Wolverine, Carlé rowed for the national U-23 team in 2005 (gold medal in the W4-) and 2006 in the W2-.
 
A native of Long Beach, Carlé has also rowed and worked with the Long Beach Rowing Association and the Southern California Sculling Club in Huntington Beach, Calif. She joined USD in 2017.
 
"I could not be more excited to be the next head coach of women's rowing at USD," said Carlé. "I would like to thank Bill McGillis and Josh Lawrence (Associate Director of Athletics and women's rowing sports facilitator) for this tremendous opportunity. Sarah Trowbridge has been an amazing mentor, colleague, teammate and friend, and I wish her the best as she makes the move east with her family. USD has a strong focus on creating scholar-athletes who are successful in the classroom, on the playing field and in the community. These values, combined with outstanding scholar-athletes, make this the perfect fit. Over the past two years as an assistant, I have helped this team develop strong athletes and fierce competitors. With the addition of this year's incoming class, I look forward to leading the Toreros to success on the national level."
 
Carlé holds a degree in Movement Science ('06), specializing in exercise physiology, biomechanics and motor control, from Michigan.

The announcement of Carlé as the new head coach of women's rowing was made in conjunction with Ben Hise being named the new leader of the men's rowing program. The full release can be read here.