ITHCACA, N.Y. – Hilary Gehman, The Staley Head Coach of Women's Rowing, has been named the Eastern Association of Women's Rowing Colleges (EAWRC) 2010 Head Coach of the Year, as was announced this afternoon. The award is the second coaching accolade for Gehman this year, as she was named the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year this past summer.

“It's nice to be recognized by the EAWRC, but our success last season was a total group effort,” said Gehman. “We had a dedicated group of athletes and a great support staff and that allowed us to move the program in the right direction. Winning this award is a sign that other coaches recognize that progress.”

In just her fourth season at the helm of the program, Gehman guided the Big Red to a fourth-place finish in the Willing Point Trophy, given to the team with the most total points at the 2010 EAWRC Sprints. The Big Red received bronze medals in the Third Varsity 8 and Varsity B Four events. Cornell also finished in sixth place of the Varsity 8, fifth in Second Varsity 8 and fourth in the Third Varsity 4.

Gehman also directed the Big Red to its first national ranking since May 5, 2004, when the team came in at No. 20 in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division I Coaches poll on April 15. The rankings are based on the results of the Varsity 8, Second Varsity 8, and Varsity 4 crews.

The EAWRC will present Gehman with her award at the 2011 EAWRC Sprints coaches meeting on Saturday, May 14 at the Cooper River (Camden County, N.J.).