MSU ROWING: Sarff Joins Rowing Staff As Assistant Coach

East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State head coach Matt Weise has announced the addition of Samantha Sarff to the Spartan rowing staff. She will begin her duties at MSU in early July, taking on the role of recruiting coordinator in addition to coaching MSU’s novices along with current novice coach Katie Bitz.

“We hired Sam because she brings a great amount of experience and enthusiasm,” said head coach Matt Weise. “She is very passionate about rowing and I think that this will show in her recruiting. I think that she will build on Helen's excellent work as recruiting coordinator. Sam's sister is the novice coach at Michigan, and that should make for some good stories as their crews race each other.”

“I am incredibly excited to be joining Michigan State and the rowing program,” noted the newest Spartan coach. “The program has a strong history of success within the Big Ten and at the NCAA Championships- and an even stronger future. The expectation for excellence is very apparent and I am eager to arrive in East Lansing to begin the season and continue to build the legacy of Spartan rowing.

“Coach Weise, the rowing staff, administration, and team have been very welcoming and I am grateful to Matt for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the Michigan State family.”

Sarff comes to MSU after two seasons on the staff at Clemson where she coached the varsity fours to fourth and sixth place finishes in the 2016 ACC Championship. In 2015 she assumed the role of coaching the second varsity 8+ and guided them to a 5th place finish at ACCs. She also helped coach 19 CRCA National Scholar Athletes over those two campaigns.

Before her time in South Carolina with the Tigers, she was on the staff at Nova Southeastern University. Sarff coached the varsity 4+ boats and the novice team while also serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator. In her two seasons at NSU, she helped the Sharks win the NCAA Division II National Championship and a national runner-up finish.

Sarff coached at the University of Florida for the club team during the 2011-2012 season. She coached the women’s novice team with her sister, (Krystina), to a No. 3 national club ranking. During that season, the program’s novice 8+ placed fourth in the grand final of the SIRA Championships and first place at the FIRA Championships.

Sarff rowed collegiately at the University of Central Florida and served as captain from 2008-2010. She was co-president of the student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) in 2008-2009 and was a CRCA National Scholar-Athlete.

While in college, Sarff attended the U.S. National Team Identification camp at Princeton University, U.S. Freshmen Development camp at the University of Wisconsin, and was invited to U.S. Pre-Elite training camp. Additionally, she trained with Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia, PA and competed at U.S. Club Nationals and Canadian Henley in 2009.

Sarff earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from UCF in 2010 and a master’s degree in athletic administration from Nova Southeastern in 2014.