Men's Rowing
- Title:
- Head Coach
Steve Todd resigned as the head coach of the Beavers in September of 2015. During his time at OSU he built one of the most successful men’s crew programs on the west coast. The Beavers earned a berth in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships in six of his eight seasons.
In his eight years at the helm, the Oregon State rowing team has finished in the top 20 in the nation each season, finishing as high 10th in the nation in 2007. In addition, to the varsity crew’s No. 10 finish in 2007, the Beavers’ junior varsity eight, open four and freshman four have combined to collect six top-10 finishes at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships under his leadership.
“Steve brings a consistency to the program,” OSU Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis said at the time of his hiring. “He is a technically sound coach and has an eye for untapped talent. He has done an outstanding job in his time at Oregon State and I look forward to seeing our men’s rowing program remain among the best in the nation.”
Todd directed his squad to a third place finish at the Pac-12 Championships in 2014 and earned an invitation to IRA Championships for the second year in a row. Todd’s varsity eight crew finished 18th in the nation while the junior varsity eight was 12th and the third varsity finished 15th.
After a two year absence from qualifying to the IRA Championships, Todd’s crews returned to the national championship regatta in 2013. His varsity eight and varsity four crews finished 17th overall, while the junior varsity 8 was 15th and the open four finished sixth.
In the summer of 2012, one Todd’s young rowers, Martin Forde competed at the World Championships in Bulgaria where raced in the U-23 Lightweight 8+.
Todd succeeded former head coach Fred Honebein in June 2006 after the Beavers finished 14th at the IRAs.
In Todd's initial foray into leading the Beavers he took two boats to Europe leading Oregon State to an impressive showing at the Czech Republic national championships. The trip marked the first international competition for the Oregon State rowing program. The Beavers varsity eight and varsity four boats both rowed to victories over crews containing athletes that went on to represent the Czech Republic at the 2006 U-23 World Championships.
Prior to moving into the head job, Todd had been a part of the Oregon State rowing program for four years as the men's freshman coach.
During his time with the Beavers’ rookies, Todd's crews medaled all four years at the Pac-10 Championships including a silver medal finish in 2003. Todd's 2003 crew of novices also took second at the prestigious San Diego Crew Classic and in the process upset traditional powerhouse Washington. Most recently, Todd's freshman four finished fourth at the IRA Regatta in June.
Todd began his coaching career as the assistant freshman coach at Washington under Honebein, while also maintaining the duties of boathouse manager from 1999-2001. While assisting Honebein, Todd helped the Husky freshman boat to the IRA national championship in 2001 and a silver medal in 2000. He served one year as the men's freshman coach at Georgetown University prior to his arrival at Oregon State in 2002.
Todd also boasts an impressive career as an oarsman including a silver medal in the varsity eight at the 1998 IRA National Championships and a bronze at the IRA in 1999. As a member of the junior varsity in 1997, his boat won the Pac-10 championship and went on to win the IRA national championship, helping the Huskies to complete a rare sweep of all three major races at the IRAs. That year the Huskies also raced internationally at the Henley Royal Regatta in Henley, England. He rowed at Washington from 1996-99.
Before rowing at Washington, Todd raced in high school for Green Lake Crew in Seattle. He helped Green Lake to a third place finish at the US Rowing Youth Invitational in 1995.
He is a 2000 graduate of Washington with a degree in speech communication. Married in 2005, Steve, his wife, Rachel, and their daughter, Mallory, live in Corvallis with their dog, Marli.
