University of Minnesota Athletics
Rowing
Chris Rechen
- Title:
- Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
- reche013@umn.edu
Chris Rechen enters his third season as an assistant coach for the University of Minnesota's rowing team in 2026-27 after being hired in September 2024. With the Maroon and Gold, he brings extensive coaching experience to campus and serves as the program's recruiting coordinator, while focusing his work with the Varsity Four crews.
In his first year with the Golden Gophers, Rechen helped the team finish seventh in the expanded Big Ten Conference Championship. Under his direction, both the First Varsity Four and Second Varsity Four boats advanced to the Grand Final with the top crew earning the highest finish for the Maroon and Gold at the regatta, placing fifth. The Third Varsity Four boat went on to pick up a victory in the Petite Final at the championship event to close 2025.
Rechen spent two seasons as an assistant coach at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., prior to joining Minnesota. He guided a combination of the 3V8, 2V8, and V4 crews for the Crusaders, and led the V4 to a first-place finish at the 2023 New England Rowing Championships. Rechen also led the national recruiting efforts of high school athletes since 2023, serving as the team's recruiting coordinator, and headed walk-on recruitment on campus during the 2022-23 campaign.
A native of Simsbury, Conn., Rechen also worked with the Quinsigamond Rowing Club where he coached water practice for all Masters' boats on the women's competitive team. His coaching resume also includes a year as the head coach of the boys' and girls' rowing programs in 2021-22 at Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School in Kingston, Pa., following a three-year stint working at the Hudson River Rowing Association.
He was a four-year letter winner for the men's rowing team at Marist College, including two years on the V8 crew, and served as a captain during his senior year of 2019-20. With the Red Foxes, he was a medalist at the Head of the Charles Regatta and twice earned Intercollegiate Rowing Association All-Academic honors.
Rechen graduated from Marist in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications, concentrating in journalism and sports communications.
In his first year with the Golden Gophers, Rechen helped the team finish seventh in the expanded Big Ten Conference Championship. Under his direction, both the First Varsity Four and Second Varsity Four boats advanced to the Grand Final with the top crew earning the highest finish for the Maroon and Gold at the regatta, placing fifth. The Third Varsity Four boat went on to pick up a victory in the Petite Final at the championship event to close 2025.
Rechen spent two seasons as an assistant coach at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., prior to joining Minnesota. He guided a combination of the 3V8, 2V8, and V4 crews for the Crusaders, and led the V4 to a first-place finish at the 2023 New England Rowing Championships. Rechen also led the national recruiting efforts of high school athletes since 2023, serving as the team's recruiting coordinator, and headed walk-on recruitment on campus during the 2022-23 campaign.
A native of Simsbury, Conn., Rechen also worked with the Quinsigamond Rowing Club where he coached water practice for all Masters' boats on the women's competitive team. His coaching resume also includes a year as the head coach of the boys' and girls' rowing programs in 2021-22 at Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School in Kingston, Pa., following a three-year stint working at the Hudson River Rowing Association.
He was a four-year letter winner for the men's rowing team at Marist College, including two years on the V8 crew, and served as a captain during his senior year of 2019-20. With the Red Foxes, he was a medalist at the Head of the Charles Regatta and twice earned Intercollegiate Rowing Association All-Academic honors.
Rechen graduated from Marist in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications, concentrating in journalism and sports communications.
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Friday, May 08
Head of the Mississippi Hype
Wednesday, October 08
Third Varsity Four Wins Again at B1G Invite
Monday, April 21
Second Novice Eight Wins at B1G Invite
Monday, April 21
