Jenn Thomas joined the Seattle University women’s rowing staff as an assistant coach in January 2025.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Jenn to our team,” said Head Coach Jenny Park. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that’s exactly what we need as we prepare to enter the West Coast Conference next year. Her passion for rowing and commitment to developing athletes will be a huge asset in helping us take this program to the next level.”
This marks a return to collegiate coaching for Thomas, who most recently served as the Lake Washington Rowing Team Competitive Team Coach. She also served as Co-Program Director and Junior Women’s Head Coach for the Lake Oswego Rowing Club from August 2022 through August 2023. At Lake Oswego, Thomas led the junior women’s team to a history finish at the Head of the Charles, qualified three crews for Youth Nationals and mentored five athletes to the USRowing Olympic Development Camp.
“I am really excited to be working with Jenny and to help lead to team in this next chapter of competition in joining the West Coast Conference,” said Thomas.
A certified USRowing Level II coach, Thomas spent three-and-a-half years at Fordham, beginning as a volunteer assistant for the Rams in 2018, named the assistant women's rowing coach and recruiting coordinator at Fordham University in March of 2019, and named interim head coach in October 2020.
While at Fordham, Thomas coached the Rams to their second third place finish at the Atlantic 10 Championships since 2000 and the varsity 8+ to their first medal since 2007. The Rams’ team GPA also increased year-over-year during her time, leading to a program-high 12 CRCA scholar athletes in 2020.
Prior to Fordham, Thomas led the Franklin & Marshall College women's program. During the fall of 2018 Thomas helped the Diplomats improve on their previous season, including leading the varsity four to their second best finish in program history at the Head of the Charles.
Prior to Franklin & Marshall, Thomas was the assistant women's coach at the University of Massachusetts - Lowell, working with both varsity and walk on athletes. Alongside head coach Mark Lewis, Thomas inherited a team transitioning from DII to club competition. Lewis and Thomas led the Riverhawks to the programs very first New England Championship in 2017.
While at UMass Lowell, Thomas spent two years as the girls coach with Hollis Brookline Cavaliers Crew and a year as the Director of Rowing at Lowell High School. With HBCC Thomas coached all levels from middle school to producing the fastest public school girls four in New Hampshire in 2017. At LHS, Thomas inherited a program on life support. That spring, all varsity fours advanced to the grand final at Massachusetts Public School Rowing Association Championships, and a third-place finish in the girls first varsity four. The Lowell High girls were runner up for the fours point trophy behind Cambridge Rindge and Latin School at that regatta.
In 2015, Thomas coached with RowAmerica and served as the assistant girls coach at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, leading them to an MPSRA state championship and strong showing at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association championships that same weekend.
Thomas graduated from Endicott College where she started her coaching career working with the walk ons. During her time at Endicott, Thomas was the first intern working with the Institute for Rowing Leadership at Community Rowing Inc. and coached their Learn to Row Program. As a senior at Endicott, Thomas took on the Head JV Girls position at the Brooks School in North Andover, Mass. A three-year captain and two-time coaches award recipient, Thomas graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Sports Management and a double minor in Exercise Science and International Relations in 2014.
The Rhode Island native started her rowing career in the single at Narragansett Boat Club under Albin Moser. Thomas was also a four-year letter winner, two-year captain and founding member of The Prout School sailing team in Wakefield, R.I.