2008-2009 Varsity Girls' Crew

Coach: Garrison Smith
Assistant Coaches: Kat Sullivan, Ashton Betancourt, Catherine You

Captains: Chloe Lyons, Sophie Stich

About the Coach

Garrison Smith is in his fourth year at Kent, and yet begins his tenure as the head girl's coach in 2007. During his first three years at Kent Coach Smith led the boy's second boat. Under his direction the second boat won a silver medal at NEIRA's in 2005, and then followed that up with a victory at the NEIRA regatta in 2006. Before coming to Kent, he was the Head Coach at the Taft School in Watertown, CT. Coach Smith helped to build the Taft program into one that was competitive on the NEIRA fours league finishing fourth in the first boat racing in 2004. His crews won the Dupont Cup in 2002 and 2004 made the Finals of the Founders Regatta in each of the last three years finishing third in 2004. Before coaching at Taft Coach Smith was an assistant at his alma mater Northfield Mt. Hermon where he coached the novices. Coach Smith began his rowing career in college, where he was a four year rower at Yale University. He rowed in the first freshman boat, spent two years in the JV and then raced in the varsity as a senior. His freshman boat finished sixth at Eastern Sprints, he won the San Diego Crew Classic at the JV level in 1993, and he won the Head of the Charles in 1994. In addition he was a double gold medalist at the US Olympic Festival in 1993. At Kent Coach Smith teaches Ecology, Honors Biology and Chemistry, and is an assistant coach for the Varsity Hockey Team. He lives in off campus with his wife Laura, his son Ashton and his daughters Lindsay and Augusta.