Eastern Michigan Athletics
Kemp Savage Named CRCA President
4/25/2025 12:19:00 PM | Women's Rowing
Savage has been instrumental in advancement of collegiate rowing
WILMINGTON, Del. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University rowing's Head Coach Kemp Savage was named the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) President, as revealed by the CRCA Friday, April 25.
Savage, who is in his 11th season as the head coach after spending five seasons an assistant coach at EMU, has been a key advocate for the advancement of the sport of rowing. Savage is a longstanding member of the CRCA Sustainability Committee as well continually served in roles that impact collegiate rowing at large, including the NCAA Rowing Championship Committee.
"It's really great to have been elected by my peers and I want to focus on what we can do to make coaching better and give out better opporunites to build out rowing, as a whole," Savage said. "We want to continue to grow rowing, protect the sport, expand it, and to bring ourselves on par with other sports. The CRCA is a great place to get involved to make rowing better."
The Chesapeake, Va., native was instrumental in the creation of the EMU Rowing Course at Ford Lake, which is set to host some of rowing's biggest events in the coming years, including RowFest this July 12-20, 2025; and Mid-American Conference Championships for at least the next three seasons.
Savage's influence also extends internationally — he will coach the U.S. Women's team at the upcoming World University Games. He previously led the U.S. Women's 8+ to a gold medal in the 2024 World University Game in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with EMU student-athlete Lily Wilhelm and a bronze medal at the 2018 World University Championships in Shanghai, China.
Savage began his coaching career at Old Dominion University before joining EMU in 2008. He holds a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Mary Washington, where he captained the rowing team, and a master's degree in exercise physiology from Eastern Michigan University.
Savage, who is in his 11th season as the head coach after spending five seasons an assistant coach at EMU, has been a key advocate for the advancement of the sport of rowing. Savage is a longstanding member of the CRCA Sustainability Committee as well continually served in roles that impact collegiate rowing at large, including the NCAA Rowing Championship Committee.
"It's really great to have been elected by my peers and I want to focus on what we can do to make coaching better and give out better opporunites to build out rowing, as a whole," Savage said. "We want to continue to grow rowing, protect the sport, expand it, and to bring ourselves on par with other sports. The CRCA is a great place to get involved to make rowing better."
The Chesapeake, Va., native was instrumental in the creation of the EMU Rowing Course at Ford Lake, which is set to host some of rowing's biggest events in the coming years, including RowFest this July 12-20, 2025; and Mid-American Conference Championships for at least the next three seasons.
Savage's influence also extends internationally — he will coach the U.S. Women's team at the upcoming World University Games. He previously led the U.S. Women's 8+ to a gold medal in the 2024 World University Game in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with EMU student-athlete Lily Wilhelm and a bronze medal at the 2018 World University Championships in Shanghai, China.
Savage began his coaching career at Old Dominion University before joining EMU in 2008. He holds a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Mary Washington, where he captained the rowing team, and a master's degree in exercise physiology from Eastern Michigan University.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Rowing
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