Honors & Accomplishments
• IRA Coach of the Year (2014, 15, 17, 19)
• EARC Lightweight Coach of the Year (2014, 15, 17)
• Ivy League Lightweight Coach of the Year (2015, 17)
Coaching Experience
• Head Coach of Lightweight Rowing, Cornell University (2008 - Present)
• Assistant Coach, U.S. Under-23 National Team (2016 - Present)
Education
• B.A., Statistics/Finance, Temple University (1990)
At Cornell
Chris Kerber was named the Henry E. Bartels '48 Head Coach of Men’s Lightweight Rowing at Cornell University in August 2008 and, since that time, has helped the Big Red become a perennial powerhouse, having won four national championships over the past six seasons of competition.
In his 12 seasons at the helm, Kerber has led the lightweight varsity eight to an impressive record of 51-22, thanks largely in part to four undefeated campaigns (2014, 2015, 2017, 2019), including a winning streak of 17 consecutive head-to-head victories from May 4, 2013 to April 16, 2016.
During Kerber’s tenure with the Big Red, Cornell has won four IRA Regattas (2014, 2015, 2017, 2019), three Eastern Sprints crowns (2014, 2015, 2017), and three Ivy League Championships (2014, 2015, 2017), as well as two Jope Cups (2014, 2015), given to the school that wins the most lightweight points at the Eastern Sprints. In total, the lightweight rowing program has earned 33 Sprints medals, having at least two crews reach the podium in eight of Kerber's 12 seasons*, while picking up 10 medals at IRAs.
Under Kerber’s direction, the varsity eight has won 28 cup races, including nine Baggaley Bowls, eight Geiger Cups, six Platt Trophies, and five Matthews Cups.
Kerber Notables
• Four-time IRA Coach of the Year (2014, 15, 17, 19).
• Has guided the Big Red to four IRA National Championships during his tenure in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019.
• Directed the varsity eight to IRA Lightweight Crew of the Year honors in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019.
• Named the 2014, 2015 and 2017 EARC Lightweight Coach of the Year, taking home the award three times in a four-season span.
• Directed the 2014, 2015 and 2017 EARC Lightweight Crew of the Year.
• Was the inaugural Ivy League Lightweight Coach of the Year in 2015 and repeated as the winner in 2017.
• Led the Big Red varsity eight to back-to-back Jope Cups and consecutive Ivy League Championships (2014, 2015) for the first time in over 50 years.
• Has led the varsity eight to four undefeated seasons, the most by a Cornell lightweight coach since Todd Jesdale posted five clean slates from 1964-1969.
• Has taken Cornell to five Henley Royal Regattas, advancing to the semifinal round twice (2014, 2015).
Prominent Cornell Pupils
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Thomas Davidson ’12 – As a senior, he helped Cornell defeat Princeton by .3 seconds to win the Platt Cup for the first time since 2007. Davidson finished second in the B final of the lightweight men’s pair for an eighth-place finish overall at the 2009 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Racice, Czech Republic.
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Edward O’Neil ’14 – As a senior, O’Neill stroked the varsity eight boat that earned a No. 1 national ranking on April 17 and held the top spot for the remainder of the season and was named the 2014 IRA Crew of the Year after posting an undefeated regular season and winning both the Eastern Sprints and the IRA national championship. He was named first-team All-Ivy as the varsity eight took home the Ivy Cup, the Joseph Wright Trophy, and the Jope Cup at the 2014 EARC Sprints, earning Cornell all three trophies for the first time since 2008. The varsity eight went on to claim the program's fifth national championship. Following the season, he helped the Big Red to a semifinal appearance at the 175th Henley Royal Regatta. O’Neill represented the United State in the lightweight pair at the 2011 World Rowing Under 23 Championships, where he and teammate Dylan Gould placed 21st overall.
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Katherine Falb ’15 –Coxed the Big Red varsity eight to back-to-back undefeated national championship seasons. She was named first-team All-Ivy twice during her career as the varsity eight won back-to-back Jope Cups and consecutive Ivy League Championships for the first time in over 50 years. The Big Red varsity eight was also named both the EARC and IRA Lightweight Crew of the Year both seasons and she helped Cornell to consecutive semifinal finishes in the Temple Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta.
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Chris Rogers ’15 – Served as team captain as a senior. Was a two-year letter winner for the Big Red and was a member of back-to-back undefeated national championship varsity eight crews. He was named first-team All-Ivy twice during his career as the varsity eight won back-to-back Jope Cups and consecutive Ivy League Championships for the first time in over 50 years. The Big Red varsity eight was also named both the EARC and IRA Lightweight Crew of the Year both seasons. He served as team captain as a senior and helped Cornell to consecutive semifinal finishes in the Temple Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta. As a sophomore, Rogers rowed in the third varsity eight that won the silver medal at the 2013 EARC Sprints. He rowed as a member of the freshmen eight during his rookie season and helped the crew to a fourth place finish at the 2012 EARC Sprints.
Prior To Cornell
Since retiring as a competitive athlete in 2000, Kerber has given back to the sport of rowing in various ways. He has coached and developed training plans for university, club, and masters rowing teams, helped run the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta, and served as a consultant for FISA (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d’Aviron), the governing body of the sport of rowing.
Rowing Career
A national and international rower for 14 years, Kerber was a seven-time member of the U.S. national team. He was a two-time World Champion and won numerous medals at the Henley Royal Regatta, the Pan-American Games, and the U.S. National Championships. He placed among the top six lightweight men for both the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Games, serving as an alternate for both teams.
As an undergraduate at Temple University, Kerber earned four medals at the Dad Vail Regatta after rowing for the Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia.
Personal
A native of Mt. Laurel, N.J., Kerber is married to former Canadian national team member Genevive Meredith and they have two daughters, Taylor and Cornelia.
Updated May 2020
*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the spring 2020 season was canceled.
