COACH HUGH TOMPKINS

Hugh Tompkins began rowing in 1991 at Winter Park High School. Making the varsity 8+ as a novice, he won three state championships as a Wildcat, taking silver in the Championship 4+ at the prestigious Stotesbury Cup his senior year. Hugh went on to row at the University of Florida, stroking the lightweight varsity eight as a freshman while also coaching the freshman rowing team. After transferring to the University of Washington, where he stroked the varsity 4+, Hugh was a member of the national championship team in ‘97.

In 2011, Hugh began coaching masters rowing with Lake Union Crew in Seattle, eventually leading their nationally competitive women’s team. He guided crews to multiple medals and top finishes at Northwest Regionals, Canadian Masters Championship, Head of the Charles, and, most notably, back to back gold medals in the Women’s 8+ at San Diego Crew Classic.  In 2014 he was runner‑up in the row2k Masters Coach of the Year Fan Award.

After returning to Orlando in 2023, he became the Men’s Team Coach at Winter Park Crew — the very program where he first learned to row. In this role, he brings a data-driven, technical coaching philosophy to the team.