Tennessee Rowing Makes Move to SEC, Enhancing the Conference's Competitive Landscape

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Conference announced Friday morning that rowing has been approved by the SEC athletics directors as the 22nd sport to be sponsored by the SEC, beginning with the 2024-25 campaign.

The rapidly growing sport has also been approved as the 13th women's sport in which an SEC Championship will be conducted, following a unanimous vote of the SEC's athletics directors.

The first SEC Rowing Championship will be held in May 2025, at a site to be determined.

Since the SEC has not previously sponsored a rowing championship, the Tennessee and Alabama rowing programs have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the 2014-15 athletic year, after previously competing in Conference USA. The 1995-96 season marked Tennessee's first year of rowing.

"The addition of Oklahoma and Texas provides the opportunity to support a new SEC championship experience for rowing student-athletes," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. "We look forward to providing support to the growth of the sport of rowing in the Southeastern Conference."

Four SEC universities—Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas—currently sponsor the sport of rowing. According to SEC Bylaws, a conference championship may be conducted when a minimum of 25 percent of the Conference members sponsor a sport, and upon approval by Conference athletics directors.

"We are thrilled that the SEC will host its first-ever rowing championship this coming spring," head coach Kim Cupini said. "This transition represents a pivotal milestone for Tennessee rowing and for collegiate rowing as a whole. Competing in the SEC, the most prestigious conference in collegiate athletics, is a testament to the hard work of our program. Our athletes and coaching staff are excited to embrace this new opportunity and continue striving for excellence here on Rocky Top."

In Tennessee's first season under Cupini, Tennessee rowing recorded its best season in program history and ascended to No. 3 in the 2024 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association's (CRCA) national rankings by season's end. The Lady Vols placed third nationally at the NCAA Championships, earning a podium spot in two of the three Grand Final events while tallying 118 team points in all.

Cupini earned CRCA National Coach of the Year and Big 12 Co-Head Coach of the Year honors in her first season at the helm on Rocky Top. In addition, the Tennessee coaching staff collectively earned the CRCA National Staff of the Year Award.

At the Big 12 Championships, the Lady Vols tied their best-ever finish, placing second as a team and medaling in all five boats.

Tennessee upped its all-time First Team All-American count from three to seven in 2024. Those four honorees served as the first First Team All-Americans at Tennessee since Chelsea Pemberton achieved that feat in 2004. One additional Lady Vol earned All-America Second Team honors.

Tennessee's 1V8+ crew accounted for a stellar 44-4 boat record in the spring season, earning Big 12 Boat of the Week honors on April 24. Its Second Eight crew posted a 42-6 mark, while the 1V4+ boat capped the year at 38-9. That totals a combined record of 124-19 (.867) for the Lady Vols' trio of NCAA Championship crews during the 2024 spring season.

For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee rowing on X (Twitter) and Instagram and like us on Facebook.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee Rowing Makes Move to SEC, Enhancing the Conference's Competitive Landscape

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