Robert B. Tallman '41
Men's Lightweight Rowing Head Coach
Todd Kennett, a former three-
year letter winner with the
Big Red heavyweight crew, was named head coach of lightweight rowing at Cornell in 1998.
A native of Middlebury, Conn., Kennett has been a member of the Cornell rowing staff since 1993. He coached the Big Red's third and fourth varsity eights in 1993-94 and served as director of freshman rowing in the fall of 1995.
In his third year as the head coach of the Big Red's lightweights, he led his crews to three grand finals races at the Eastern Sprints and watched as several members of his team enjoyed success at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships, including the pair of Rob Garrison and Jon Zelken winning a silver medal in the varsity pair race. At the Sprints, the junior varsity eight captured a bronze medal.
Beginning in 1994, Kennett served as Cornell's freshman lightweight crew coach. In 1995, he led his first freshman eight to a second-place finish at the Eastern Sprints. In 1998, the first freshman eight placed third at the EARC grand finals, while the second freshman boat took second-place honors. Cornell's second freshman eight was undefeated during the 1996 and 1997 regular seasons. Under Kennett, the third varsity eight placed second at the Saturday Night Sprints in 1994 and the four-with-coxswain finished third at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships.
In 1992-93, Kennett served as coach of the Ithaca College women's novice program, leading the squad to a 22-2 record, two New York State Small School titles and two Murphy Cups. His Bomber crews also earned silver and bronze medals at the Dad Vail Regatta.
A 1991 graduate of Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kennett received his bachelor of science degree in animal sciences. As a rower with the heavyweights from 1987-91, he competed in the first freshman eight his first year and went on to row in the varsity eight for three consecutive seasons, including the 1991 campaign in which the varsity finished third at the IRA regatta and competed at the Henley Royal Regatta. He received the Butler Award for outstanding leadership and athletic performance as a senior.
From 1989-91, Kennett rowed in U.S. Rowing Olympic Development and Pre-Elite camps. He also competed in the 1989 and 1990 Olympic Festivals, placing third and first, respectively.
