Lisa Glenn - Rowing Coach - University of Tennessee Athletics

KNOXVILLE, TN - 2016.10.28 Rowing Practice

Lisa Glenn

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
lglenn2@utk.edu

Updated June 2, 2023

After leading Tennessee rowing for the majority of the program's history, head coach Lisa Glenn announced Friday, June 2, 2023, her retirement after 25 years at the helm on Rocky Top.

"Lisa has put her heart and soul into leading our women's rowing program, and we are incredibly thankful for all she has done over her 25 years as head coach," Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. "She achieved success on the water with nine appearances in the NCAA Championships and in the classroom with 93 national scholar-athlete awards since 2001. From all of us on Rocky Top, thank you Lisa!"

In the history of Tennessee Athletics, only two head coaches—Pat Summitt (38 seasons with women's basketball) and Mike Patrick (29 seasons with women's tennis)—enjoyed longer tenures than Glenn. Throughout her time at the helm, the Lady Vols appeared in nine NCAA Championships, won three titles (2 conference, 1 region) and finished inside the top three at conference championships 12 out of 13 times, earning her Regional/Conference Coach of the Year on five occasions.

"Leading the rowing program has given me numerous opportunities for which I am very grateful," Glenn said. "I enjoyed bringing the best characteristics of rowing to Tennessee Athletics and the University of Tennessee, while simultaneously having several occasions to offer the best of our athletics department and university to the rowing community.

"Working with the awesome student-athletes that have come through our program has been an honor and watching our alums move successfully into life, family and careers is even better. I have appreciated working alongside the honest, hard-working and ethical staff who make up the program on Rocky Top.

"Thank you to the groundbreaking leaders who offered me the keys to this challenge, and a shout out to the innovators who are shepherding the Athletics program now.

"I'm excited to cheer on the next chapter of Tennessee Rowing; it will always have a special place in my heart."

During her time leading the program, Glenn helped the then-28-year-old program mature into one of the top programs in the country. Glenn has led the Lady Vols to nine appearances at the NCAA Championships, including five full-team selections in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2021. Only the second coach in Volunteer rowing history, Glenn has a strong track record of producing stellar student-athletes, both on the water and in the classroom. Throughout her career, she's a three-time regional coach of the year and two-time conference coach of the year. Her teams have won three titles (2 conference, 1 region) and has finished inside the top three at conference championships 11 out of 12 times. A total of 12 All-America honors and 79 All-Region recognitions have been earned by student-athletes under her guidance.

Seven Vols have taken home All-America accolades under Glenn's tutelage, with Lindsey Morrissett being the most recent honoree in 2021. Erika Lauderlade was selected as a second-team CRCA All-American in 2012. After the 2010 season, Laura Miller was selected as a second team CRCA All-American. Former rower Erin-Monique Shelton collected second-team honors for the third consecutive year in 2008, joining Chelsea Pemberton as the only Tennessee rowers to earn All-America distinction three times. The 2005 squad saw Andrea Bagwell and Pemberton both named to the second team, while in 2004, Pemberton picked up first-team honors and Kaitlin Bargreen garnered a second-team selection. In 2003, the All-American duo was flip-flopped, with Bargreen taking first-team status and Pemberton earning a second-team selection.

Glenn’s student-athletes have also excelled in the classroom. Overall, Tennessee has now earned 93 CRCA National Scholar-Athlete awards since the 2001 season. Under Glenn, the UT program has seen two of its athletes picked to back-to-back ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District IV squads. Libuse Bruncvíkova’ earned a place on ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV second-team. Bargreen also picked up second-team accolades from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in both 2004 and 2005, while Kacey Montgomery garnered the honors in 2002 and 2003. Montgomery grabbed a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-America At-Large First Team both years and received the Edsouth Lady Vol Scholar-Athlete of the Year award in 2002. Marissa Allen was presented with the Helen B. Watson Award, given to the Women’s Volunteer athlete with the highest GPA, in both 2004 and 2005. Most recently in 2021, 30 student-athletes were named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and 11 freshmen were named to the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll. Twenty-six student-athletes were named to the 2021 Big 12 Academic All-Conference Team, and senior Gia Hodges was named Big 12 Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year after graduating with a 3.98 GPA while double majoring in neuroscience and psychology.

The team has excelled under Glenn's watch at the Head of the Charles Regatta, held every fall in Boston, Mass. Glenn's entries in the Club 8+ race have captured six golds, including three consecutive victories in the event from 2005-07 and most recently in 2011. The Championship 8+ crews have made their mark over the years as well, claiming top-10 finishes on three occasions, and top-15 marks eight times, including a program-best fifth-place finish in 2007. In 2009, the Champ 8+ from Tennessee finished 12th out of 34 overall, placing it in the top eight among universities. The Championship 4+ squad has also been successful, taking fifth in back-to-back years during 2016 and 2017. Another top-10 finish was collected from the crew in 2015, taking ninth overall. In the Club 4+ race during 2017, the team brought home third overall. In both 2018 and 2019, the Club 4+ crew finished second out of more than 50 entries with a times of 18:44.443 and 18:45.960, respectively.

In 2023, Tennessee earned its best finish ever during the Big 12 Championship, placing second overall, as all five boats medaled during the regatta for the first time in program history. Two Lady Vols crews notched their best finishes ever at the league championship, while four rowers (Casey Chromister, Reagan Long, Kate Schildmeyer, Emma Seawright) were selected to the All-Big 12 First Team thanks to their performances throughout the season. Throughout the season, the 2V8 crew posted an impressive 36-6 record and earned Big 12 Boat of the Week honors twice, while the 2V4 boat received the honor once. It was the first time in program history either of the boats had won the award.

During the 2022 campaign, the Lady Vol 1V8 lineup put together one of the best seasons in program history, winning four Big 12 Boat of the Week honors and compiling a 21-7 record. The group defeated four ranked boats throughout the year, highlighted by a win at No. 6 Virginia, and finished second at the Big 12 Championships. As a team, Tennessee was ranked inside the top 20 for the entire season for a second straight year. Jaimie Armitage, Kathleen Rice, Emma Seawright and Madelyn Walsh were tabbed to the All-Big 12 Rowing Team. In the classroom, Tennessee landed 12 rowers on the CRCA National Scholar-Athletes list, while 25 Lady Vols were named to the All-Big 12 Academic First Team.

In 2021, Tennessee finished third in the Big 12 Championship to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships, ending an 11-year drought and finishing the season ranked at 17. Tennessee burst into the CRCA/Pocock Coaches Poll in week one, landing at No. 8 after a dominant performance at the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invite. It marked the first time a Lady Vol squad had cracked the CRCA Top 20 since the 2012 season and the first time a Tennessee squad had been ranked top-10 since the 2008 season when the team climbed as high as No. 4. Seniors Brenna Randall and Lindsey Morrissett and freshman Emma Seawright were named to the Big 12 All-Conference Rowing Team. The Big Orange placed 26 on the Academic All-Big 12 Rowing Team, and senior Gia Hodges was named the Big 12 Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Tennessee's 2020 spring season was canceled due to COVID-19. The fall of that year was highlighted by a second-place finish in the Club 4+ and a 23^rd place finish in the Championship 8+ at Head of the Charles.

In the 2019-20 season, Tennessee's rowing season was cut in the spring because the Big 12 canceled sports due of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) global health crisis. During the fall, the crew competed at the Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) and the Secret City Head Race on the same weekend. At HOCR, the Club 4+ boat finished second with a time of 18:45.960, besting 55 other entries.

During the 2019 campaign, Tennessee logged a sixth-place finish in the automatic qualifier standings at the Big 12 Rowing Championship behind Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, Kansas State and Kansas. Senior Pari Baker was named to the All-Big 12 Rowing Team. The Lady Vols also placed 27 rowers on the Academic All-Big 12 Team, 24 on the first team and three on the second team. Senior Kathryn Cosgrove was the recipient of the NCAA Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship, marking the fifth consecutive season a UT rower was awarded an NCAA postgraduate scholarship. Tennessee's fall season was highlighted by a second-place finish in the Women's Club Four event at the 2018 Head of the Charles Regatta.

In 2018 the Vols finished third in the automatic qualifier standings at the Big 12 Rowing Championship behind Texas and Oklahoma. Tennessee’s Alex Dawson, Pari Baker and Annie Pelic earned All-Conference honors. UT also placed 22 rowers on the Academic All-Big 12 Team, 19 on the first team and three on the second team. The Vols’ 1V8+ was named the Big 12 Boat of the Week on April 19 after posting a first-place finish in the Varsity Eight Final C at the Clemson Invitational. Senior Jennifer Davis was awarded the NCAA Women’s Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship, marking the fourth consecutive season a Tennessee rower received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, and Katherine Porter was one of nine 2018 UT graduates to be named a Torchbearer.

At the 2017 Big 12 Championship, Tennessee placed third behind Texas and Oklahoma. The Vols’ Chandler Frumin, Pari Baker and Anneta Kyridou earned All-Conference honors. UT also placed 19 rowers on the Academic All-Big 12 Team, 16 on the first team and three on the second team. Graduating in just three years, senior Chandler Frumin was awarded the NCAA Women’s Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship, marking the third consecutive season a Tennessee rower received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship.

Tennessee took third in the automatic qualifier standings at the 2016 Big 12 Rowing Championships for the second consecutive season. McDarragh Minnock earned Big 12 All-Conference honors for the second straight year. She was joined on the All-Conference team by Taylor Upson and Pari Baker. UT also landed 13 rowers on the Academic All-Big 12 Team, 11 on the first team and two on the second team. Senior Katie King was named to the Academic All-Conference team for the fourth consecutive season. Senior Harper Lucas was awarded the NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women’s Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship, the second year in a row a Tennessee rower earned the honor.

2015 was the first season in the Big 12 for Tennessee rowing as the squad posted a third place finish in the conference championship as boats finished in all four of the major races (First Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight, First Varsity Four and Second Varsity Four). Sarah McAuliffe , Whitney Wolfe and McDarragh Minnock were named to the Big 12 All-Conference Team. McAuliffe also earned an NCAA Postgraduate scholarship for her work in the classroom and Kaitlan Aries was named a NSCA Strength & Conditioning All-American.

In 2014, the Tennessee rowing team posted a second place finish at the C-USA Championship, and was narrowly edged by Oklahoma in the day's final race, the varsity eight grand final. Seniors Liz Dickson and Rachel White, and junior Sarah McAuliffe were named to the All-Conference Team. The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) honored senior Liz Dickson naming her to the South First Team All-Region, propelling Tennessee's all-time CRCA First- and Second-Team accolades to 41. During the spring, Tennessee's 2V8+ was recognized as C-USA's Boat of the Week after its performance at the Clemson Invitational.

The Big Orange finished its 2013 campaign in second at the conference championship, falling to Oklahoma in a close battle. Erika Johnson, Ashley Fichthorn and Liza Rader were named to the 2013 Rowing All-Conference Team, this was Johnson's and Fichthorn's third consecutive year on the team. During fall racing, Tennessee claimed seven medals, including two gold medals.

In 2012, Glenn guided the Vols to their second Conference USA championship in three years. Glenn was also recognized as the 2012 C-USA Coach of the Year, her second time receiving this honor. In addition to these recognitions, Kayla Lucier was named the 2012 C-USA Newcomer of the Year. Under Glenn's instruction, four Vols were named to the All-Conference USA Team.

With a young team in 2011, Glenn's team placed second overall at the Conference USA Championship, earning second-place finishes in the Varsity 8+, Second Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+ and won gold in the Open 4+. Her crews had a strong showing at the prestigious Lake Natoma Invitational, with her Varsity 8+ taking first in the Group B final. The Second Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ both placed third overall in the Group B final. Tennessee's Varsity 8+ and Second Varsity 4+ took first against Minnesota in their season opener while the Second Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ took second. In the fall of 2010, Glenn's crews swept the field in the Collegiate 8+, Collegiate 4+ and Collegiate 2- at the Chattanooga Head Race, taking first place. Her Championship 8+ took 10th overall at the Head of the Charles Regatta and at the Head of the Hooch Regatta; Glenn's Champ 8+ took second overall.

Glenn helped propel Tennessee to new heights in 2010, leading the Orange and White to its first-ever Conference-USA rowing championship. Glenn was also named C-USA Coach of the Year for her efforts in helping Tennessee achieve this historic feat. Under Glenn's tutelage, senior Laura Miller was named the C-USA rower of the year, while three other student-athletes captured All-Conference honors.

In addition to capturing the C-USA crown and making an appearance at the 2010 NCAA Rowing Championships, Glenn also propelled the Vols to a successful spring season, which saw the squad take home a fourth-place finish at the prestigious Lake Natoma Invitational. The Big Orange also performed well in the first-ever double dual meet on Lake Loudoun, recording victories in the 2V8+ over Dartmouth and Alabama. The fall of 2009 was also an impressive one for Glenn's squad as UT collected four gold, three silver and five bronze medals, including a sweep of the gold medals in the Championship 8+, 4+ and 2- at the Chattanooga Head Race.

In 2008-09, the Vols collected a total of 18 medals in three races. Junior coxswain Katie Ross led the V8+ "A" shell to three of those medals, one of which came after her shell clocked a 14:17.4 time at the Head of the Hooch regatta. That was the fastest ever time produced by a UT shell at the event. While UT fell just short of reaching a fourth-consecutive bid to the NCAA Championship, Glenn's squad still had several successes on the throughout the 2008-09 season.

Kate Brownlee and Caroline Howell were members of the V8+ shell that grabbed first-place in the "C" Finals at the 2009 Aramark South/Central Region Sprints. Jessica Williams coxed her 2V8+ crew to a fourth-place finish in the Petite Final. Manned primarily by novice rowers the varsity four and 2V4+ shells produced stellar results. Glenn's top four took first in their respective "C" Final, while the 2V4+ boat notched a runner-up finish in the "D" Final.

Tennessee continued to excel against the top programs in the nation during the 2007-2008 season. The Orange and White had a historic weekend at the 2007 Head of the Charles, claiming fifth in the Championship 8+ (third among universities), its highest finish in program history along with a third straight victory in the Club 8+. Later that season, Williams steered her 2V8+ shell to a first-place finish in the "B" Final of the Lake Natoma Invitational and followed with the top time at the Charles River Challenge.

At the 2008 NCAA Championships, the three-time Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) South Region Coach of the Year guided UT to its first-ever appearance in a grand final, as the second varsity eight took fifth to record UT's best event finish at the NCAA regatta.

At the conclusion of the 2008 season, Bruncvíkova' and former squad member, Kendra Warren joined Shelton as CRCA All-South Region honorees, marking the eighth straight year that a Tennessee rower has been honored. Academically, the Orange and White proved itself again with Nina Dobratz, Danielle Hmielewski, Ross and Mary Beth Dreusike joining Warren and Shelton on the CRCA National Scholar Athlete list, and 25 student-athletes earning conference academic recognition, for the second straight year and fourth time overall, the rowing team won Tennessee's CHAMPS Cup which is awarded to the team on campus that demonstrates the greatest commitment to the five areas of the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills program - academic excellence, athletic excellence, community outreach, leadership, and personal development.

The 2007 season saw Tennessee host the NCAA Championship event, where it recorded a ninth-place overall finish, the highest in program history. The Vols also earned their second straight full-team bid to the championship after taking third at South Regionals, where each boat competed in the Grand Finals for the first time in program history. Shelton became the third two-time All-American and joined Renee Brittle, Stephanie Davis, Krista Gearing and Rachel Mayberry as a CRCA All-South Region honoree. That season, the Vols continued their academic success, with Davis earning a selection to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District IV squad. The Orange and White also had 25 student-athletes earn SEC academic honors. For its efforts in the classroom, on the water and in the community, the squad collected the CHAMPS Cup for the first time under Glenn.

In 2006, the Volunteers captured the program's only South Region title at the 10th-annual Aramark Sprints. A third-place showing in the grand finals of the Varsity 8+ handed the cup to Glenn and her troops. In its first full-team appearance at the NCAA Championships, Tennessee finished 12th in the team standings after the First Eight won the "C" final and the Second Eights took 11th-place. As a freshman, Shelton became just the fifth All-American in program history, as she was picked to the second team by the CRCA. Four UT athletes were listed on the CRCA All-South Region Teams, while Dobratz and Davis earned CRCA National Scholar Athlete recognition. The pair joined 24 other rowers on the Academic All-SEC Team and Freshman Academic Honor Roll, the most in program history.

UT's 2005 Varsity 8+ shell ranked sixth in the final USRowing/CRCA Varsity Eight Poll and finished a program-record eighth at the NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif. Bargreen and Dana Forbes earned CRCA National Scholar-Athlete honors, while that duo was joined by Bagwell and Pemberton on the CRCA All-South Region squads. The 2005 squad produced 13 rowers on the 2005 Southeastern Conference Spring Academic Honor Roll.

In 2003-04, Tennessee saw the Varsity 8+ finish 10th in the final USRowing/CRCA Varsity Eight Poll and mirror that with a 10th-place showing at the NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif. The squad had another excellent academic showing, as well, with 22 rowers making the SEC Academic Honor Roll and Erin Artz, Bargreen and Nicole Bold earning CRCA National Scholar-Athlete accolades.

During 2002-03, the Vols advanced their Varsity 8+ boat into the NCAA Championships for the first time. That crew finished 14th in the final USRowing/CRCA Varsity Eight Poll and placed 16th at the NCAA Championships. During Glenn's fourth year, she led the Varsity 8+ to five gold-medal performances. Academically, her team also excelled, as 19 rowers earned Academic All-SEC honors. Glenn's squad in 2001-02 compiled 120 wins en route to five gold-medal performances. Individually, four rowers earned either first- or second-team CRCA All-South Region distinctions and seven Vols were chosen as CRCA National Scholar-Athletes, while 37 student-athletes were named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Glenn and her staff also witnessed the opening of the new $2.5 million boathouse, a structure alongside the waters of the Tennessee River.

Glenn drove her team to an overall 11th place finish at the Lexus South/Central Sprints to close out their 2001 spring season. Just a few weeks prior, her team finished third overall at the SIRA regatta. Throughout the season, her team compiled 17 second place finishes and seven first place finishes. In the fall of 2000, her team raced to six first place finishes, including a fifth place finish at the Head of the Tennessee and a seventh place finish at the Head of the Chattahoochee.

In her second year, Glenn guided her team to first and second in two of the three events entered at the Chattanooga Head Race, while her Varsity 4+ captured second place at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships. Off the water, a total of 39 rowers were named to the Honor Roll, and 22 of those were selected to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Her squad also was given the inaugural Team Community Service Award for the volunteer work it did in and around the Knoxville area.

During her initial campaign at Tennessee, Glenn watched her young squad take first place at its initial regatta of the year at the Chattanooga Head Race. Her crews also took first place in two of their three races at the Head of the Tennessee. In addition to her team's accomplishments on the water, 11 Tennessee rowers were named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll, while five members of the squad were selected to the Lady Vol Academic Top-10.

Prior to her move to Knoxville, Glenn served as an assistant rowing coach from 1994-98 at the University of Iowa, developing the novice program while assisting in recruiting and overall team development. She helped guide the Varsity 4+ to a fourth-place finish at the inaugural NCAA Championships in 1997, and her novice squad secured two Midwest Rowing Championship titles, two Central Regional Championship titles, a Champion International Collegiate Regatta title and a bronze medal at the U.S. Rowing Collegiate National Championship. One of her highlights at Iowa included upset victories at the Midwest Rowing Championships in 1995 and 1998 over Wisconsin and Ohio State, respectively.

In 1993, she served as the assistant development coach for the U.S. Junior National Team and was tabbed the squad's head coach the following year. Glenn served on the NCAA Rowing Committee from 2005-07, and she also held a seat on the USRowing Board of Directors from 1996-98.

Before coaching at Iowa, she worked as a graduate assistant coach for Syracuse University while pursuing her master's degree in public communications at the acclaimed Newhouse School of Communications. In 1991, Glenn received her master's degree and stayed on board with the Orange as a full-time assistant rowing coach. As head of the novice program, she led SU to its best-ever performance, with her novice squads earning silver and bronze medals at the Eastern Association of Women's Rowing Colleges Sprints.

Glenn, a 1988 graduate in American studies at Mount Holyoke College in Holyoke, Mass., was the school's varsity rowing captain for two years and a varsity letterwinner from 1985-88. She won three Seven Sisters' Championship titles and a gold medal at the Head of the Connecticut, later becoming the recipient of the Outstanding Senior Athlete Award from Mt. Holyoke.

A Clarkston, Mich., native, Glenn has coached rowers of all ages and levels. While at Syracuse, she worked with junior girls at Liverpool High School. Her crews won two gold medals and one silver medal in the 1990 Empire State Games. She also has coached competitive to elite level master's women, ages 27 and over for only the third time since joining the major college ranks in 1989.