THE STORY OF TULANE ROWING
Rebirth on the Bayou: 1985
In 1985, the tide turned. A small group of dedicated students and alumni revived the program as the Tulane University Rowing Association (TURA). Their mission was simple: to bring competitive rowing back to Tulane and to New Orleans.
Leading the effort was Coach Bob Jaugstetter, an Olympic medalist and a mentor whose leadership anchored the team for more than 35 years. Under his guidance, Tulane Rowing found its rhythm once again, returning to regional competition, earning national respect, and rebuilding a community that continues to thrive today.
Resilience Through the Storms
Tulane Rowing’s success has come with challenges. The club has endured multiple disruptions—from Hurricane Katrina, to the COVID-19 pandemic, to Hurricane Ida—each testing the team’s resilience.
The club also relocated multiple times over its modern history, adapting to new boathouses and waterways. Yet through every setback, the program’s spirit endured. The program rebuilt, grew, and returned stronger each time.
Early Roots: 1800s-1940s
Rowing in New Orleans began long before Tulane Rowing as we know it today. By the late 1800s, Tulane students and alumni were already part of the region’s thriving rowing culture, racing wooden shells on the Mississippi River, Bayou St. John, and Lake Pontchartrain alongside the city’s earliest rowing clubs.
Those early crews helped plant the seeds for a sport that would become a fixture of Tulane’s athletic identity. Through the early 20th century, the university’s rowers competed in local regattas and embraced the spirit of teamwork, grit, and New Orleans pride that still defines the program today.
But by the 1940s, the university’s rowing activity waned. World War II, resource constraints, and changing campus priorities caused the program to fade. For decades, the memory of Tulane Rowing lived only in photographs and alumni stories.
Rising to National Promise
From the late 1980s onward, Tulane crews steadily grew stronger and faster. Tulane began racing at some of the nation’s premier regattas, including:
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Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championships
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Head of the Hooch
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Dad Vail Regatta
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Head of the Charles Regatta
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IRA National Championships
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ACRA National Championships
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And occasional appearances at the world-renowned Henley Royal Regatta
Over the years, Tulane rowers have reached international waters—representing both the university and the United States at the Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cups, World University Games, Copa América de Remo, Coastal Rowing World Championships, and Beach Sprint Finals.
In 2021, a Tulane alumna was named one of the USRowing Female Athletes of the Year, marking one of the program’s proudest moments on the national stage.
Today: Stronger Than Ever
Today, Tulane Rowing trains at a Category 5-rated indoor rowing facility on the Industrial Canal, featuring 3,000 meters of straight, protected water—one of the best collegiate training venues in the Gulf South.
Under the leadership of Head Coach John Huppi (’11), the team continues to build momentum both regionally and nationally. In recent seasons, Tulane crews have earned:
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Gold medals in the Women’s Pair at both the 2022 Dad Vail and SIRA Regattas
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Silver medals in the 2025 SIRA Women’s Varsity 4+ and Women’s Novice 8+
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A National Silver at the 2025 ACRA Championships in the Women’s Novice 8+
With a deep history, dedicated alumni, and a growing base of student-athletes, Tulane Rowing continues to thrive as one of the most successful club sports on campus—and one of the most resilient programs in collegiate rowing.
Quick Facts
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Founded (original era): Late 1800s
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Re-established: 1985 – present continuous operation
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Location: Industrial Canal, New Orleans LA
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Facility: Cat-5 indoor boathouse | 3,000 m straight-water course
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Head Coach: John Huppi (’11)
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Former Coach: Bob Jaugstetter (1985 – 2020)