Cougar Crew names alum Peter Brevick as new head coach

By Steve Nakata, Division of Student Affairs

Brevick Peter cougar crew coacch PULLMAN, Wash. – Former standout Cougar rower Peter Brevick is returning this fall to Washington State University as head coach of Cougar Crew.

Cougar Crew, now approaching its 50th anniversary, includes both the men’s and women’s varsity sport rowing clubs. These teams compete against varsity and club teams from the Pac-12 and Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association, as well as clubs in the American Collegiate Rowing Association.

Brevick replaces Arthur Ericsson, who has been the Cougar Crew coach since fall 2004.

WSU’s University Recreation and the Cougar Crew Alumni Association announced Brevick’s hiring following an extensive national search.

Brevick returns to Pullman after working five years with the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation (OKCBF) and the OKC Riversport Junior Rowing Program in Oklahoma City.

At the OKCBF, Brevick served as a boatman for more than 100 racing shells and coached athletes from recreation to world levels, including coaching the USA Men’s Lightweight pair at the 2014 World Championships in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

During the past two years he has worked with the OKC Riversport junior team as the varsity boy’s coach. Both years his boats made the grand final at Youth Nationals, took fourth in the Boy’s Pair in 2016, and earned a silver medal in the Boy’s Four this past season.

“Peter’s leadership will bring us to a new level of excellence while embracing, respecting and truly understanding our deep history and culture,” said Cougar Crew Alumni Association Chairman Tim Richards. “He is one of our own.”

Matt Shaw, assistant director of competitive sports in University Recreation, said Brevick played a key role in the resurgence of Cougar Crew in the mid-2000’s, noting his role in shaping the team’s history, and knowing what it means to be a Coug and a rower at WSU.

“The fact that he has gone on to coach such high-caliber teams and athletes and is returning to Pullman says a lot about our program’s positive direction and the standard that we are trying to set as a national power in collegiate rowing,” he said. “I think Peter will not only make us successful on the water, but will be a great developer of student athletes here at WSU.”

Brevick began rowing at WSU in 2002, earning a seat in the Varsity 8+ boat during the first semester of his freshman year. After that, he rowed in Varsity 4+ boats which went to the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships three times and finished fifth his senior year.

Support for Cougar Crew comes through donations from parents and alumni, member dues, fundraising, and some support from UREC.

Joining Shaw and Richards on the search committee were WSU alumni Ernie Iseminger and Doug Engle; former crew coach and faculty advisor Ken Struckmeyer; former Commodores August Boyle, Ashley Vu, Katie Fowler; and current Commodores Devon McCornack and Harlow Bronstein.

 

Media Sources:

  • Matt Shaw, assistant director for competitive sports, University Recreation, 509-335-9660, mattshaw@wsu.edu
  • Steve Nakata, public relations communications coordinator, Administrative Services, 509-335-1774, nakata@wsu.edu