Trey Farley
tlf001@marietta.edu
The Marietta College men’s rowing team announced the hiring of Aaron Lucia as the new assistant coach to current Head Coach Phil Schmehl. Lucia replaces Adam Askham who, in his tenure with the Pioneer Navy, assisted with a varsity 4+ shell that placed second in the Head of the Charles and eighth at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Regatta.
Lucia comes to Marietta after seven years as a masters level coach at Three Rivers Rowing Association in Pittsburgh. Lucia also spent two years as an assistant novice coach at Pittsburgh Central Catholic and another six years as the head novice coach at Central Catholic, a program that has produced many collegiate rowers under Lucia’s guidance. Also in his time as a coach at Central Catholic, Lucia’s crews won three Midwest Championships and two New Jersey Scholastic Championships. His crews also qualified for six Scholastic Rowing Association of America (SRAA) national championships, advancing to the finals on four occasions and earning three medals.
In addition to his years of experience as a coach, Lucia also rowed for three years at Central Catholic and for a year at Syracuse University. He also has had the chance to work with numerous coaches from the prestigious Ivy League rowing conference.
“We are excited to have Aaron join our program,” Schmehl said. “He brings extensive coaching experience from his time at the high school and masters levels to Marietta rowing.”
Lucia has been well received by the men’s team and has been welcomed with open arms to the program.
“Coach Lucia brings a new perspective to the team and allows Coach Schmehl to relax a little more by taking the stresses accompanied with practice and office work off of Schmehl which generally boosts morale because if the boss is happy, we’re all happy.” sophomore rower Aaron Smith told The Marcolian.
The Marietta College Crew team and new coach Lucia will open up their spring season on March 19 with the 60th annual Marietta College-Purdue cup on the Muskingum River in Marietta, Ohio.
