Mari Sundbo - Rowing Coach - University of Minnesota Athletics

Mari Sundbo

Title:
Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator
Email:
sundb156@umn.edu

Former Golden Gopher rower and 2015 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Mari Sundbo, returned to her alma mater in July 2023 as a member of the coaching staff when she was hired as a varsity assistant coach and also serves as the recruiting coordinator.

In her first season at Minnesota, Sundbo helped guide the team to its highest finish at the Big Ten Championship since 2015 as the team placed fifth, highlighted by the First Novice Eight boat earning a bronze medal. The Maroon and Gold won spring duals against Kansas, Kansas State, and Gonzaga, while the First Varsity Eight crew became the Gophers' first boat to land a pair of B1G Boat of the Week honors since the 2012-13 campaign as it picked up the accolades March 19 and April 23.

A native of Minnetonka, Minn., she previously spent four years at UCF working as an assistant coach with the rowing program. Her first season with the Knights was shortened to just one race as the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancelation of the 2020 spring season. In the lone meet, UCF swept the Metro Cup for its 10th-straight Robin Yeuell Trophy. She worked with the fours, helping the crew to runner-up finishes at the American Athletic Conference Championship in both 2021 and 2022. During the 2023 season, she led the 2V8 boat that picked up a bronze medal at the conference championship regatta.

Before her time at UCF, Sundbo worked for three years as an assistant coach at Bucknell where she was involved with all aspects of the program, including operations and recruiting. She led the varsity four to a silver medal at the Patriot League Championships in 2018 and 2019 and guided the team to a second-place result in team points at the 2019 championships.

Sundbo was a three-year member of the Golden Gophers rowing team between 2012-15. She was named a team captain for the 2014-15 campaign and earned three Academic All-Big Ten selections. She also earned the Cheryl Wick Scholarship and Donna J. Olson Award in her final season.

Following graduation from Minnesota in 2015, Sundbo was the novice boy's head coach and varsity assistant at Twin Cities Youth Rowing Club in Edina, Minn., between 2015 and 2016. While there, she instructed and facilitated practices on water and indoor training facilities and prepared rowers with skills and fitness required for varsity and collegiate competition.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in parks, recreation, and leisure studies with a minor in sport management from the University of Minnesota.