Keenness and enthusiasm are everything in a coach

--Steve Fairbairn
"The Father of Modern Rowing"

Demonstrating winning form at the Head of the Charles

Bob Spousta has been the head coach at George Mason since 1987.  During his tenure he has built the GMU Crew Club into one of the strongest rowing teams in the Mid-Atlantic region and he oversaw the transition of women's rowing from club to intercollegiate status.

Bob continues to work as the GMU Rowing Coordinator.  A competitive rower himself, Bob Spousta has become one of the most prominent names in the US rowing community by racking up an impressive string of victories over the years.  Twice a member of the US national team during the eighties, Bob also set a world record on the ergometer, has won the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta eight times in his single (including 1999 and 2000) and currently holds two course records there.  Bob was named the Dad Vail Regatta "Coach of the Year" in 1998.  Bob currently competes as a member of the Potomac Boat Club.  Prior to George Mason, Bob coached at the University of Massachusetts, the University of Nebraska, and T.C. Williams High School.

Bob is single and currently lives in Burke, Virginia. He has three children, Rob, 26, a recent graduate of the University of Virginia, Lauren, 16, and Matthew, 13. He still enjoys sculling, kayaking, biking, hiking, and eating. He holds an M.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Massachusetts.

Assistant Coach Jon Barrett is a recent graduate of George Mason University, having rowed 4 years on the varsity under Coach Spousta. Jon also rowed previously for four years at nearby Hylton High School. He has served as President of the club, and also maintains the team's website. Interested rowers can email Jon at jbarret4@gmu.edu for information about the team.

The GMU coaches are always interested in talking to prospective rowers!

Contact us by calling the office at (703) 993-3289 Email: rspousta@osf1.gmu.edu