Nathan McFadden, Director, Athletics & Recreation at Trent University, announced today the appointment of Brian Love as the new head of operations, Trent Rowing. With a distinguished career in rowing and a passion for developing student-athletes, Love brings a wealth of experience and a fresh vision to the program.

A prominent figure in the local rowing community, Love has been an active member of the Peterborough Rowing Club since 1978, serving as Club president four times. An accomplished rower himself, Love represented Team Canada in the 1976 Montreal Olympics in the men’s pairs and earned a silver medal in the men’s pairs in the 1975 Pan American Games.

Love’s coaching career is marked by numerous achievements, including guiding teams to national championships and mentoring athletes who have advanced to international competition. His dedication to excellence and holistic athlete development aligns seamlessly with Trent University’s values and aspirations.

“We are thrilled to have Brian lead our esteemed rowing program,” said McFadden. “Brian brings extensive high-performance knowledge and has competed at the highest level as an Olympian. In addition to being highly respected in the rowing community across the country, he understands what is required to be a successful student-athlete and brings an incredible amount of experience and passion to our program.”

“After many years of being engaged with competitive rowing at various levels, with both the Peterborough and the Trent University communities, I’m very excited to play a direct role in leading a strong team of dedicated Trent Rowing coaches. Each year the competitiveness of Canadian university rowing continues to advance, and Trent's student-athletes and coaches are committed to rising to this challenge, which I am honoured to support.” 

As the head of operations of Excalibur Varsity Rowing, Love will focus on fostering the growth and development of the team, both athletically and academically. He will be responsible for overseeing training programs, enhancing student-athlete performance, and building a strong team culture.  He will also work closely with university staff to promote the rowing program and strengthen its ties within the local and national rowing communities. The Excalibur rowing program will continue to benefit from the expertise of seasoned coaches Ugette Vanderpost, head coach of the women’s varsity rowing team, and Rayf Sheill, head coach of the men’s varsity rowing team, both of whom will lead on-the-water training and competition.