Hughes ’96 replaces Jordan as heavyweight head coach

Hughes has coached the lightweight team since 2006 and led the Tigers to championships at Eastern Sprints, the IRA nationals and the Henley Royal Regatta this year.

“Gred established his bona fides with his successful stint as our lightweight coach,” Director of Athletics Gary Walters ’67 said. “The rowing program is fortuante to have such a strong line-up of men’s and women’s coaches representing Princeton at the Shea Rowing Center, a Mecca for collegiate rowing.”

Hughes said the decision to switch teams was not an easy one.

“This group of Princeton lights has given me four of the most enjoyable and rewarding years of my life. The athletes themselves are the key to the lightweight team’s recent success and they will continue to show their speed in the years to come.”

Jordan retired after spending the last quarter century affiliated with the University’s crew program. He 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 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.”

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.

Marty Crotty ’98, who had been Jordan’s assistant coach for the heavyweight team, was named Hughes’ replacement as head coach of the lightweight team.

“I am confident that we have the talent to continue the success of last year, as well as strengthen the base of our team to achieve some new goals in 2010 and beyond,” Crotty said.