MARIETTA, Ohio — Former University of Mary Washington head coach Philip Schmehl is the newest addition to the Marietta College Athletics Department. He was hired in late June as the assistant coach for the women's rowing program.

“It is a true privilege to have Coach Schmehl join our coaching staff at Marietta College,” Head Coach Kelly Harris said. “His wealth of knowledge and experience at the Division III level will help to further elevate the women's rowing program to even greater levels of success.”

Schmehl joins the Pioneers after five successful seasons as the varsity rowing coach of both the men and women at Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va. During his time with the Eagles, he elevated both programs to the national scene. In 2009, Schmehl led his crews to titles in the first ever Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference (MARC) Championship. In 2007, the women advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship for the first time in school history and finished seventh. He has also guided Eagle boats to the Grand Finals in the Dad Vail Rowing Championship as well as appearances in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championship.

“I am very excited to be working with Kelly and the young women on the team,” Schmehl said. “Having the opportunity to work with one team will really help me refine my coaching skills. My expectations are to assist Kelly in making the Pioneer women's crew one of the fastest teams in the region and nation. I am confident that we can get it done.”

Schmehl came to Mary Washington from Charlottesville, Va., where he had been the head coach of the Rivanna Rowing Club. Prior to moving to Virginia, he completed his master's degree from Smith College in Northampton, Mass., assisted with the Smith College program for two years and served as the head of the Northampton Youth and Community Rowing program. He received his bachelor's degree in English from Bucknell University in 1999.

A four-year collegiate rower at Bucknell, Schmehl was the president of the crew club his senior year, assisting with practices, fundraising, organization and web page design. He was named to the U.S. Rowing's second team honor roll in 1999, and gained nine career medals, including six golds and three silvers.

Schmehl is certified by U.S. Rowing as a level III coaching member. He had experience coaching with the Yankee Rowing Club in Hadley, Mass., as well as at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore.

Schmehl's and his wife Becky plan to live in Athens. She recently accepted a job as an Assistant Professor with the Visual Communications department at Ohio University, her alma mater.

“That was the primary reason for the change,” Schmehl said. “It was simply too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Marietta women's rowing is coming off a season of growth in 2009. The young Pioneers earned a bronze medal at the Mayor's Cup and Knecht Cup, while taking fourth at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championship and the MARC Championship.

 “As we continue to mold and strengthen the team atmosphere, Coach Schmehl will have a great positive influence,” Harris said. “His ability to recruit quality student-athletes who understand the commitment and dedication the sport requires will help to catapult our roster size and retention from year to year. I have no doubts that Marietta women's rowing will greatly benefit from all that Coach Schmehl has to bring to the team, both on and off the water.”

Marietta will open the 2009 fall season in early October at a race yet to be determined.