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6 CAVALIER CORNER cavalier sports W esley Ng was named the second head coach in University of Virginia rowing history on June 20. Ng (pronounced ENG) takes over UVA's storied program after serv- ing as the head women's rowing coach at the University of Pennsylvania for the last nine years. Under Ng's leadership, Penn qualified for the NCAA Championship in each of the last three seasons, marking the first three times the Quakers have qualified as a team. Penn finished 11th at the NCAA Championship in 2022, sixth in 2023 and 10th in 2024. Ng succeeds legendary coach Kevin Sauer, who led the Cavaliers to a pair of NCAA titles (2010 and 2012) and 22 ACC championships. Cavalier Corner: What attracted you most to become the next rowing head coach at Virginia? Ng: "It was all about UVA's commitment to excellence both academically and ath- letically and the reputation of UVA rowers. I had the pleasure of coaching some UVA athletes on the United States' U23 World Championship team from 2014 through 2017, and they stood out for being impres- sive athletes, ferocious competitors and even better people. "That is the domestic reputation for UVA women's rowing. Also, UVA is one of only eight universities that have won the NCAA Championships. The combination of the Rivanna, UVA facilities and, most impor- tantly, the expectations and loyalty of the rowing community are a proven winning combination." Cavalier Corner: How well did you know former head coach Kevin Sauer and how can you build on the legacy and stan- dard he set at Virginia? Ng: "Kevin and I coached on the 2015 U.S. U23 World Championship team to- gether, and he has always been a role model, colleague and steward of our sport. He would always pick up the phone and be willing to discuss complex prob- lems with me. "Kevin would say that the rowing legacy at UVA is shared by rowers, staff and coaches, both before the program went var- sity and during the past 29 years of varsity status. Those UVA teams changed NCAA women's rowing, making it faster and more competitive. "What comes next? While the fundamen- tals of the program are strong, we can take a fresh look at how we operate. I aim to build the most immersive and successful rowing experience domestically and globally." Cavalier Corner: Describe your coaching style and what our student- athletes and fans can expect from you and your staff. Ng: "My coaching style is highly collab- orative and focused on giving the athletes what they need to succeed. Creating a high- performance training environment requires looking at the student-athlete experience and weaving together the story of the whole team with the demands of creating champi- onship speed at the NCAAs. "A fundamental principle for me is that every athlete matters first as a person and then as a teammate who contributes to our program- matic speed. We all have a responsibility to represent UVA to the best of our abil- ity." Cavalier Corner: What is your vision for the Virginia rowing program? Ng: "My vision for Vir- ginia women's rowing encompasses a person's lifelong relationship with the program — from being identified as a world-class talented recruit to a deeply connected and competitive student-athlete to a lifelong Hoo who supports the up- coming generation. "The depth of that relationship is highly dependent on a total commitment to com- petitive success with no reservations." Cavalier Corner: What challenges does the changing landscape of collegiate athletics present to you and the Virginia rowing program? Ng: "Collegiate rowing is truly global now, and one of our challenges is finding the best domestic and international student- athletes inspired by our program's character and approach. "As NCAA rules and conference realign- ment evolve, our core mission must remain to provide a superlative athletic experience that allows student-athletes to grow, learn and compete to their maximum potential." — Erich Bacher five questions with New UVA Rowing Coach Wesley Ng Ng ser ved as the head women's rowing coach at the University of Pennsylvania for the last eight seasons. Under his leadership, Penn qualified for the NCAA Championship in each of the last three seasons, marking the first three times the Quakers made the event as a team. (Photo courtesy Penn Athletics)