Honors & Accomplishments
• EARC Coach of the Year (2010)
• University Men's Coach of the Year (2010)
• EARC Lightweight Coach of the Year (2006, 2008)
• Four-time United States Under-23 Assistant Coach
Coaching Experience
• Head Coach of Heavyweight Rowing, Cornell University (2008-Present)
• Head Coach of Lightweight Rowing, Cornell University (1999-08)
• Assistant Coach of Lightweight Rowing, Cornell University (1995-98)
• Assistant Coach for Heavyweight Rowing, Cornell University (1994)
• Assistant Coach of Women’s Rowing, Ithaca College (1992-93)
• Volunteer Assistant Coach of Women’s Rowing, Cornell University (1992-93)
Education
• B.S., Animal Sciences, Cornell University (1991)
At Cornell
After serving as the Cornell men's lightweight rowing coach for 10 seasons, Todd Kennett ’91 was named the Spirit of ’57 Director of Rowing/Heavyweight Rowing Coach in June 2008.
During Kennett's time on East Hill, he has led the heavyweight program to earn 10 Eastern Sprint and three IRA medals. Kennett's teams have had at least one boat reach the podium at Eastern Sprints in seven of 12 seasons in which the Big Red competed, with the varsity eight advancing to three Grand Finals. Cornell has also experienced success at IRAs under Kennett's tenure, as the varsity eight has finished in the top-10 at IRAs seven times. Kennett's varsity eight boat in 2010 qualified for the IRA Grand Final, winning a bronze medal.
Kennett’s varsity eight boats have also won a combined 20 cup races, including winning the Madeira Cup against Penn in 12 of the last 13 seasons in which the race was held. Even more impressive, Kennett led the Big Red to claim the James Wray Memorial Trophy for 14 consecutive seasons between 1999 and 2022.
In his 24 years with the Big Red, Kennett has prepared numerous athletes to continue rowing beyond their time on East Hill. He has had 18 current and former athletes compete in the Under 23 World Rowing Championships, including several repeat participants, as well as 10 former athletes that have raced in the World Championships. Many of Kennett’s former athletes have moved into the coaching ranks themselves, including two current Ivy League lightweight head coaches.
Kennett Heavyweight Notables
• The Big Red swept Penn to win the 2019 edition of the Madeira Cup, winning the cup for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons that the race was held*. Kennett also helped the Big Red hoist its 12th consecutive James Wray Memorial Trophy, 11 of which have come under Kennett's direction. This is the longest winning streak in the history of the series.
• Has had seven student-athletes earn Cornell Athletic Department awards, including four Ronald P. Lynch Senior Spirit Award winners, given to the senior student-athlete whose leadership on and off the field models the ideals of the Big Red athletics department.
• Helped the Big Red earn the 2016 Rusty Callow Award, an honor presented each year by the EARC to the crew that, in the previous year, best personified the virtues of "spirit, courage and unity."
• During the 2015 season, Cornell earned a clean sweep over No. 12 Navy and No. 13 Syracuse to win the Goes Trophy and the Stagg Trophy on Onondaga Lake. With its win in the varsity eight, second varsity eight, and freshmen eight, the Big Red earned a sweep over the Midshipmen and Orange for the first time since 1974, and just sixth time in the history of the series.
• In the six seasons from 2009 to 2014, the Big Red’s freshmen eight won five bronze medals at the Eastern Sprints.
• In 2012, Kennett led the heavyweight varsity eight to an upset of Princeton and Yale to earn the program’s first Carnegie Cup since 2009. It was just the third time since 1974 that the Big Red defeated both the Tigers and the Bulldogs in the same season.
• The 2010 campaign proved to be one of the most successful seasons in recent Cornell history, and following the season, Kennett was named the EARC Coach of the Year. He was also honored at the 18th Annual Joy of Sculling Coaching Conference as the 2010 University Men's Coach of the Year. The Big Red heavyweight varsity eight also took a special honor as the EARC Co-Crew of the Year.
• The Big Red was one of just four teams in the nation to place its varsity eight, second varsity eight and freshmen eight into the Grand Finals of the 2010 IRA Regatta. At the end of the day, two Cornell boats had medaled, including the varsity eight, which took the bronze behind the two top-ranked crews, Cal and Washington. The third-place finish by Cornell was the best finish at IRAs since taking third in 1994. For its efforts at the IRA, the Big Red varsity eight was named the Row2K Crew of the Week. Additionally, the Open 4+ placed first at IRAs and set a course record, despite having two freshmen in the boat. Overall, the performance of Cornell’s four boats led the Big Red to its best team finish since 1981.
• In his first year with his new squad, Kennett led the Big Red to one of its best season in over 30 years, as the 2009 heavyweights enjoyed an undefeated 11-0 season in head-to-head races, posting a clean slate for the first time since 1977 and just the 15th time since 1912.
Kennett Lightweight Notables
• Under Kennett’s direction Cornell made history, becoming the first lightweight eight boat to capture three consecutive IRA national titles (2006-08).
• Finished as the national runner-up in 2005.
• His varsity eight boat placed in the top six-nationally in each of his last seven seasons at the helm.
• Led the Big Red varsity eight to a pair of EARC Crew of the Year awards (2006, 2008).
• Won two Eastern Sprints titles (2006, 2008) and had five top-three Eastern Sprint finishes altogether.
• Won the 2008 Jope Cup, given to the school that wins the most lightweight points at the Eastern Sprints, taking home the award for the first time since 1992.
• Earned four straight invitations to the renowned Henley Royal Regatta, and posted a pair of runner-up finishes (2006, 2007).
• He coached the lightweight pair to a gold medal at the 2000 IRAs, and in 2001 the lightweight pair claimed a silver medal before taking gold in 2004, 2005, and 2008.
• In 2003, a Kennett-coached varsity pair captured a bronze medal at the IRAs.
• In 2002, he led all five of his crews to grand finals races at the Eastern Sprints, including a bronze medal performance by the varsity eight.
• In 2001, the junior varsity eight took bronze at the Sprints, as did the lightweight straight four at the IRAs.
• As an assistant coach with the lightweight program, Kennett led the Big Red’s second freshmen eight to undefeated seasons during the 1996 and 1997 campaigns.
• In 1998, the first freshmen eight placed third in the EARC grand finals, while the second freshmen boat took silver.
• In 1995, he led his first freshmen eight to a silver medal at the Eastern Sprints.
Prominent Cornell Pupils
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Colin Farrell ’05 – One of the fastest rowers in the nation during his time with the Big Red, he led all four of his varsity boats to medals at the Eastern Sprints. As stroke of the lightweight varsity crew, he led Cornell to a combined record of 17-2 over his final two seasons, including a mark of 10-2 in Ivy competition, the best record by a Cornellian as a two-year stroke in more than 50 years. He went on to become a three-time U.S. National team rower, winning a Gold Medal at the 2008 World Championships in the lightweight eight after trips to Worlds in 2006 and 2007 in lightweight fours.
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Coin Smith ’11 – Smith was the commodore of the men's heavyweight crew as a senior. He stroked the heavyweights to a third-place finish at the IRAs as a junior, the program's top finish since the 1980s.
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James Voter ’12 – After helping the freshmen eight earn its first Eastern Sprints medal in 32 years, the Dresher, Pa. native moved into the varsity eight boat for his final three seasons. As a sophomore, he helped the Big Red earn a bronze medal in the IRA Grand Finals, coming in behind the two top-ranked crews, Cal and Washington. Following his senior season, he helped the United States men’s heavyweight eight win the gold medal at the 2012 U23 World Championships.
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Gardner Yost ’12 – A walk-on who transformed into a top rower for the Big Red. After helping the freshmen eight earn its first Eastern Sprints medal in 32 years as a rookie, he helped the second varsity eight win silver at the Eastern Sprints during his sophomore season. Following his senior season, he helped the United States men’s heavyweight eight win the gold medal at the 2012 U23 World Championships.
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Alex Karwoski ’12 – A two year member of the varsity eight, he finished with a silver medal at the Eastern Sprints in the second varsity eight his sophomore season. Following his Cornell career, he went on to row for the US national team. He helped the US men’s eight to a fourth place finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics, as well as numerous strong showings at World Championships and World Rowing Cups. In 2015 and 2016, he won bronze in the men's eight at the World Rowing Cup II, in addition to earning silver in the men's eight at the 2017 World Rowing Championships. Most recently, Karwoski was named the 2019 Male Senior Athlete of the Year by USRowing.
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Chris Massey ’13 – A three-time letter winner, he rowed in every varsity race during his final three seasons. Represented the United States in the men’s quad at both the 2011 and 2012 Under 23 Rowing World Championship. In 2011, he helped the US to a fourth place finish, which was the best ever for the US in that event.
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Michael Colella ‘16 – A member of the varsity eight boat during his Cornell career, Colella captained the men’s heavyweight team during his senior season. As a freshman, he was a member of the freshmen eight that earned bronze at the 2013 EARC Sprints and finished just outside the medals in fourth at the 2013 IRA Regatta. After Cornell, Colella has gone on to row at the 2017 and 2018 World Rowing Championships in the bow of the men’s 2-, placing 11th in 2017 and 15th in 2018.
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Greg Davis ‘16 – While at Cornell, Davis was a three-time U23 selection, helping the US men’s eight win a silver medal at the 2015 championships after a bronze medal performance in 2014. A standout rower for the Big Red, he competed in the varsity eight all four years and served as captain during his senior year in which the Big Red placed fifth at Eastern Sprints, its best finish since 2009. Davis is currently training for the US National Team.
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Finn Putnam ’18 – Putnam served as captain of the Cornell heavyweight squad during his senior season. He rowed in the U.S. men’s eight that finished just off the podium at the 2017 World Rowing Under 23 Championships, placing fourth. In the summer of 2019, he won the Canadian Henley. Putnam is currently training for the U.S. National Team.
Coaching Tree
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Colin Farrell ’05 – The Fred W. Leonard Head Coach of Penn Lightweight Rowing
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Billy Boyce ’08 – Friends of Harvard Lightweight Rowing Coach for Men's Lightweight Crew
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Gabe Winkler ’99 – Head Coach of Oregon State University Rowing
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Drew Tennant ’04 – Assistant Coach/Recruiting Director for Cornell Heavyweight Rowing
Prior To Cornell
Kennett served as coach of the Ithaca College women’s novice program for two seasons, 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.
Rowing Career
As a rower with the Cornell heavyweights from 1987-91, Kennett competed in the first freshman eight his rookie year and went on to row in the varsity eight for three consecutive seasons, including the 1991 campaign in which the varsity eight 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.
Personal
A native of Middlebury, Conn., Kennett and his wife, Jessica, reside in Groton with their two daughters, Emma and Sophie, and son, Dalton.
