University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: David Kaplan
'U' Adds Hess to Rowing Coaching Staff
8/26/2026 12:00:00 PM | Rowing
Collegiate and international experience for the assistant coach
MINNEAPOLIS - University of Minnesota rowing head coach Alicea Strodel announced the hiring of Andrew Hess as an assistant coach for the program heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
"We are very excited to have Andrew joining our rowing staff," Strodel said. "His experience, knowledge, and ability to connect with and develop student-athletes will be a great addition to our program. I'm excited to have him get to work with our team and help us continue to take another step forward."
Hess joins the Golden Gophers with an extensive background in coaching at both the collegiate level and on the international stage. He served as an assistant coach at Columbia University with the heavyweight rowing program from 2022 to 2026, following a six-year stint as the associate head coach for the Lions' lightweight team. Hess also brings more than 10 years of experience as a recruiting coordinator. During his time at Columbia, he helped guide crews to two IRA National Championships, an IRA team points trophy, an Eastern Sprints title, and two Jope Cups.
"I am thrilled to be joining Minnesota rowing," Hess said. "Everyone I have met has been incredibly welcoming and I cannot wait to get on the water and get to work. I am looking forward to helping elevate the program and get started this year."
A native of New York, N.Y., he has coached with USRowing since 2020 and worked with men's crews at the Senior, U23, and Junior World Championships. His boats have won U.S. trials across multiple boat classes, while qualifying a crew in every U23 boat class. In 2025, Hess guided the U.S. men's pair to a fifth-place finish in the A Final at the U23 World Championships in St. Catharines, setting an American record time of 6:22.17.
Hess earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration degree from Xavier University to go with a Master of Arts in Neuroscience and Motor Learning from Columbia.
"We are very excited to have Andrew joining our rowing staff," Strodel said. "His experience, knowledge, and ability to connect with and develop student-athletes will be a great addition to our program. I'm excited to have him get to work with our team and help us continue to take another step forward."
Hess joins the Golden Gophers with an extensive background in coaching at both the collegiate level and on the international stage. He served as an assistant coach at Columbia University with the heavyweight rowing program from 2022 to 2026, following a six-year stint as the associate head coach for the Lions' lightweight team. Hess also brings more than 10 years of experience as a recruiting coordinator. During his time at Columbia, he helped guide crews to two IRA National Championships, an IRA team points trophy, an Eastern Sprints title, and two Jope Cups.
"I am thrilled to be joining Minnesota rowing," Hess said. "Everyone I have met has been incredibly welcoming and I cannot wait to get on the water and get to work. I am looking forward to helping elevate the program and get started this year."
A native of New York, N.Y., he has coached with USRowing since 2020 and worked with men's crews at the Senior, U23, and Junior World Championships. His boats have won U.S. trials across multiple boat classes, while qualifying a crew in every U23 boat class. In 2025, Hess guided the U.S. men's pair to a fifth-place finish in the A Final at the U23 World Championships in St. Catharines, setting an American record time of 6:22.17.
Hess earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration degree from Xavier University to go with a Master of Arts in Neuroscience and Motor Learning from Columbia.
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