STANFORD, Calif. – It was quite a year for first-year head coach Derek Byrnes and it has been capped off with him being announced as the National Coach of the Year.
Stanford was his first collegiate coaching job and he proved he belonged, leading the Cardinal to the IRA National Championship as a team and two boats to national titles, the varsity eight and varsity four.
The varsity eight went through the spring season undefeated in 11 races, ending with a win in the IRA Grand Final to take the crown for the fifth time in sixth years.
The varsity four became the first Stanford four to win at the IRA’s. The Cardinal was the first school to ever win both the four and eight at the IRA Championships.
The national title was the fifth in program history and Byrnes will have another excellent team back in 2016, despite the departure of three senior All-Americas.
