Dewey Hired as Assistant Rowing Coach at Willamette

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Alyssa Dewey has been hired by Willamette University as an assistant rowing coach, Head Rowing Coach Reba Knickerbocker announced today. Dewey joins Willamette after being a coach and instructor with the Sammamish Rowing Association in Redmond, Wash.

"I'm excited to welcome Alyssa to Willamette and Willamette rowing," Knickerbocker said. "She will bring great enthusiasm to the position as well as a strong desire to join me in growing the program. Her experience as a rower at Western Washington, a junior's coach, and an NSCA certified strength and conditioning coach, will help to establish a strong competitive program and will be a great compliment to my vision for Willamette rowing."

Dewey said that she was looking forward to joining the Bearcat rowing program.

"I was interested in the position at Willamette because its a full-time assistant coaching position, which is very rare, and allows me the awesome opportunity to work full-time at what I am most passionate about -- spreading my love of the sport to other rowers while working hard on and off the water to create competitive crews.

She will also be moving closer to her hometown. She is a native of Bend, Ore.

A graduate of Western Washington University, Dewey competed in rowing all four seasons. She helped the women's varsity 4+ win the NCAA Division II Championship in 2011. That same year, the WV4+ took first place at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships.

She contributed to the women's varsity 8+ claiming first place at the WIRA Championships in 2012. The Vikings went on to take second place in the WV4+ at the 2012 NCAA Championships.

In 2012, Dewey gradated from Western Washington with a bachelor of science degree in Kinesiology. She earned a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist credential from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

Dewey will be primarily responsible for coaching the novice rowers, but will also assist with the varsity rowers and will help handle administrative duties.

"The upcoming season should be very exciting," Dewey said. "The team is currently pretty small and we have a unique opportunity to grow the program and create a culture of hard work, speed, and, of course fun! I fully believe that Willamette is in the early years of building a powerhouse rowing program."