Sept. 18, 2003

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University Director of Athletics and Recreation Cheryl L. Levick announced today that Tony Barcia was named the varsity head coach for men's crew. Barcia takes over the reigns of the program he once rowed for after serving the last two seasons as the assistant coach in charge of the novice program.

"I am looking forward to the challenge and opportunity of being the men's crew head at Santa Clara University," said Barcia. "Picking up where Jay Farwell left off leaves me with some enormous shoes to fill. Under his direction, the program attained a great degree of positive momentum and I am going to aggressively pursue extending that momentum into future seasons."

Barcia was a part of that positive momentum that was built in Farwell's five-years at the helm, competing as a varsity rower for the Broncos before graduation from the Mission Campus in 1999.

"Working with the outstanding student-athletes at Santa Clara as an assistant coach over the past two years has been a tremendously rewarding experience," he added. "I am looking forward to taking the helm this season and having a chance to give back to the rowing program that has given me so much to me, both as a rower and an assistant."

Since the 2001-02 season, under Barcia's direction, the men's novice and junior varsity teams have experienced a great deal of success. At the WIRA Championships in Sacramento, the novice four made it into the Grand Final of the competition where they finished fifth. This was one year removed from finishing second at the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia. The junior varsity team also shared in the success, claiming victory in their division of the WCC Championships in 2003.

Barcia and his team will begin practice after the start of the fall quarter, which begins on Monday, September 22. The first competition will be held on October 11, as the Broncos will take part in the Stanford Boathouse Fall Regatta at Redwood Shores.