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Staff Directory
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Adrian Spracklen
Head Coach
814-824-3013
aspracklen@mercyhurst.edu
Adrian Spracklen, a native of Marlow, England, has been the women's rowing head coach since 1992 and the men's head coach since 2001. He has been rowing since the age of eight and has had many years of experience, competing on the British National Team as both a Junior and Lightweight Senior International.
Under the guidance of Spracklen, the Laker women's rowing team competed at NCAA Division II National Championship from 2002-2005 and again in 2008 and 2009. The highlight of those appearances resulted in the program winning Mercyhurst College's first and only NCAA championship in 2004. From those crews there have been 10 first team All-Americans and six Academic All-Americans. Mercyhurst was also the national runner-up in 2005 and 2009. The women's lightweight eight won the ECAC Championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and placed fourth at the IRA Division I Championships in 2002.
At the 2009 Dad Vail Regatta, the Laker men’s lightweight four went on to win the second gold medal of the day after defeating teams such as Berkeley, Emory, Drexel and St. Joseph’s. The unit won the James J. Lynch trophy in a time of 6:45.004 to cap off an undefeated season.
The third and final medal of the day went to the men’s varsity pair as they earned the Bob Negaard Cup in a time of 7:21.32. Despite finishing nearly four seconds slower than the duo’s semifinal time, only one other pair on the day clocked a faster time in the three semifinal heats.
Mercyhurst's men's lightweight four captured the 2008 Dad Vail Regatta Championship, the closest thing to a national championship in men's rowing. The Lakers' time of 6:26.758 was almost five seconds faster than Brock to win the title. The lightweight eight crew won the 2007 SIRA Championships and placed third at the Dad Vail Regatta. The varsity four won the 2006 ECAC National Invitational Regatta with a course record time of 6:37.51. Mercyhurst men's varsity eight won the petite final at the 2005 Dad Vail Regatta and the lightweight eight took second at the 2005 ECAC. At the 2004 ECAC, the Mercyhurst men took second in both the lightweight eight and varsity four.
Spracklen is also a Clinical Instructor for USRowing and has spoken at numerous National Conventions and conducted coaching clinics across the country. His coaching talents have also taken him to India and Canada in various roles. He has also worked with the US National Team's medical staff since 1995.
Spracklen graduated from Mercyhurst in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in sport medicine and earned a master's in sport medicine/athletic training from Western Michigan University in 1991. In 2002, he was named small college coach of the year and in 2004 was named Division II National Coach of the Year. He is married to 1994 Mercyhurst alumna Mia (Urycki), and is the father of three girls: Henley (born in 1999); Teagan (2001) and Luca (2003). His father, Mike Spracklen, is the Canadian National Rowing Team Coach; he has been coaching international crews since 1975 and has guided his boats to a gold or silver medal at every Olympics. |
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