Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Rowing coach Martin Stone Receives Contract Extension

July 30, 2004

Notre Dame, Ind. – Notre Dame women’s rowing coach Martin Stone has signed a contract extension to continue as coach of the Irish rowers.

Stone was hired as the program’s first varsity head coach in October of 1997. In 2003-04, its sixth season as a varsity sport, The Irish won their first-ever BIG EAST Challenge, thanks to victories by their varsity eight, varsity four, second varsity eight, second varsity four, novice four and novice eight boats. The varsity eight boat also earned the school’s second-ever NCAA berth and produced an 11th-place finish (the highest in school history). The team also finished 16th in the final US Rowing/Collegiate Coaches Rowing Association (CRCA).

Stone has seen the growth of the sport and the program at Notre Dame and was one of six finalists for CRCA national coaching honors in ’92. He has had two rowers earn All-American honors – the most recent was Natalie Ladine who became the school’s first-ever first-team honoree in 2004.

Two years ago in 2002, the Irish varsity eight boat received its first-ever invitation to the national regatta at the ’02 NCAA Rowing Championships. The varsity eight crew finished 16th at the NCAA event and Notre Dame ended the season 13th in the final team rankings after being ranked as high as eighth at one point in the season. That came after the Irish narrowly missed an NCAA bid in ’01.

Eleven rowers have earned all-regional honors under his tutelage.