Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1991
Drlica took over the reigns of the Oregon State student-run rowing club in 1950. In 1952 he recruited enough sorority women to form the nation’s first women’s crews. The program saw a growth spurt as rivalries were born from the different houses.
In 1966, Drlica, along with California Women’s Crew coach Art Sachs, invited representatives of all known women’s organizations to Corvallis to create a National Women’s Rowing Association. In 1968 the men’s heavyweight crew was absorbed into OSU’s Athletic Department. Two of his crews placed first at the IRA Regatta.
Drlica retired from coaching the Beavers following the 1983 season.
In his time, Drlica was an innovator writing books on the sport of rowing, encouraging such ideas as building boats out of fiberglass long before it was a common practice.
He passed away in 2006.
