Jordan announces retirement as heavyweight crew coach

Curtis Jordan will retire after 19 years as head coach of the men’s heavyweight crew, Director of Athletics Gary Walters ’67 announced Thursday.

Jordan’s retirement follows the departure of men’s lacrosse head coach Bill Tierney, men’s lacrosse associate head coach David Metzbower and women’s tennis head coach Kathy Sell from their respective programs.

“The most important contribution that he has made to Princeton is as a role model and mentor to hundreds of young men and women at the boathouse,” Walters said in a statement. “The ‘Curtis Jordan legacy’ will be passed forward from generation to generation of rowers at Shea [Rowing Center].”

Jordan came to Princeton in 1984 when he became head coach of the women’s open crew. He led his team to EAWRC/Ivy League championships in 1985 and 1990 and to a national title in 1990.

The Trinity College graduate became head coach of the men’s heavyweight crew in 1991. During his tenure, the crew captured five EARC/Ivy League titles, as well as two national championships in 1996 and 1998. Princeton also won the Rowe Cup at the EARC regatta from 1995 to 1999.

Assistant coach Marty Crotty ’98 said in the statement Jordan’s retirement was unexpected.

“Curtis’ retirement certainly comes as a surprise to me and the other members of the coaching staff,” said Crotty, a member of the 1996 and 1998 national champion heavyweight crews. “Having had the privilege of rowing for and coaching with Curtis, I have received several lifetimes and careers worth of mentorship and friendship from him.”

Jordan served as a coach for the U.S. Olympic crew on four occasions, even taking the 2000 season with the Princeton crew off to focus on the U.S. squad as it prepared for the Summer Olympics in Sydney.