John Gartin, Head Coach
(954) 262-8273
gartin@nova.edu
The first-ever women's rowing coach at Nova Southeastern University, John Gartin is entering his fifth season at the helm, after guiding the Sharks to their unprecedented fourth consecutive appearance at the NCAA Women's Rowing National Championships. Gartin has also produced four CRCA All-Americans (Collegiate Rowing Coaches Assoc), with Nicole Felluca (2007), Cheyenne Poskey (2006, 2007), Katrena Bonilla (2005) and Jen Rembe (2004) each garnering the prestigious honor over the programs first four seasons.
The 2007 Sharks accomplished several major goals including finishing fourth at the 2007 NCAA Championships in Oak Ridge, TN with both the V8+ and V4+ reaching the grand final for the first time in the program's history. The team also captured the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association Varsity 8+ Championship and won the 2007 Sunshine State Conference Team Championship with victories in both the V8+ and V4+. The 2007 team also produced six All-Conference and two All-Freshman rowers as well as the Boat of the Year, the V8+, and Conference Rower of the Year, Nicole Felluca.
Under Gartin's watchful eye, the Sharks have set new program and national records becoming the only crew ever to reach the NCAA Division II Women's Rowing National Championships in their first four seasons of competition.
The 2006 Sharks finished third overall in the nation after a third-place Varsity 8+ finish in the Grand Final and a fourth-place Varsity 4+ finish at the 2006 NCAA Championships in Princeton, NJ. The 2006 Sharks also had an undefeated season in the lightweight 4+, captured the SSC Championship in the V4+ and won the Lyden cup in the V8+ race at the Rollins Invitational.
In 2005, NSU became the first SSC institution to ever finish as high as third in the nation and also was ranked No. 2 nationally for the highest ranking ever by an NSU team.
With a 20-member crew, the Sharks started off the season with an impressive showing at the Stetson Sprints as three of the four NSU crews won their events. For the season, the Varsity 8+ crew captured five first-place finishes and three second-place finishes, while the Varsity 4+ notched six first-place and two second-place finishes.
After the Varsity 8+ crew captured first place at the Sunshine State Conference Championships, NSU continued with the momentum, finishing third at the Dad Vails Regatta in Philadelphia, Penn.
Accepting its second invitation in as many years, Gartin and his crew headed to Sacramento, Calif. to take part in the 2005 NCAA DII Women's Rowing National Championships. The Sharks finished with 11 team points as the Varsity 4+ placed fourth and the Varsity 8+ finished second behind National Champions Western Washington to give the NSU women's rowing team their highest finish at nationals.
During its inaugural season, 2003-04, the women's rowing team achieved a victory in the Varsity 8+ Petite Final, earning them a fifth-place finish in the NCAA Division II National Championships. The Sharks earned a No. 5 ranking during the season, not only a first for the rowing team, but also tying the highest ranking ever earned by an NSU program at the time (women's golf, 2003-04). The Sharks became the first team to ever reach Nationals in an inaugural season of competition.
Gartin came to NSU from the San Diego rowing club, where he was the masters women's head coach for two years. During his tenure, he led his crew to several championships, including first-place finishes at the 2002 SW Regional Masters Championship, the 2001 and 2002 Newport Autumn Rowing Festival, and the 2001 and 2002 San Diego Fall Classic; and third-, fourth- and fifth-place finishes at the 2003 San Diego Crew Classic in the Master A 8+, Open 8+ and Club 8+ events, respectively.
Prior to the San Diego rowing club, Gartin was a volunteer assistant women's rowing coach at San Diego State University, the head rowing instructor at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center and the men's head coach of the San Diego State University men's rowing club. Gartin also has been an adjunct faculty member specializing in human and physical geography at California State University-San Marcos, Palomar College, and Cuyamaca College.
Gartin holds a Level III Coach Certification from the United States Rowing Association. He is also lifeguard, CPR and first-aid certified by the American Red Cross.
Gartin holds a bachelor of science degree in geography from Old Dominion University and a master of arts degree in geography from the University of South Carolina. A Norfolk, Virginia native, Gartin competed as a member of the ODU rowing club while at the university.
