7 with Coach Serra Sevenler ’15

Getting to know the new director of rowing and the head coach for women’s rowing

Coach Serra Sevenler ’15

When rowing season is in full swing, Serra Sevenler ’15—the new director of rowing and head coach for women’s rowing—wakes up at about 5 a.m. to get to the boathouse about a half an hour before the 55 members of the women’s varsity team and men’s club team show up. This gives her time to check over the team’s equipment, which includes seven 8-person boats, five 4-person boats, and three doubles. She relishes that quiet time–it’s when she soaks in the earliest moments of the day when the sun starts to rise over the Genesee River.

Here, Sevenler delves into who she is and why she loves rowing and coaching.

1. What’s the best part about coaching at your alma mater? 

Coaching and mentoring athletes to reach their full potential has always been my greatest passion and doing so at my alma mater has been really fulfilling. But the most rewarding aspect of my job at the University is coming back as my authentic self, which includes being openly gay. This is something that I struggled to come to terms with when I was a student athlete here, so I feel a sense of responsibility to be an example of someone that is now very comfortable in their own skin, embraces their queerness, and absolutely loves being a part of the LGBTQ+ community. I hope that by being out I encourage my team to also be their true selves.

2. What’s a favorite coaching moment so far? 

This past fall, at the Head of the Genesee—our home regatta—we had three 8s that all took gold in their races. In rowing, it’s customary for coaches to hand out the medals to each boat, so you can imagine how surprised I was when after races ended, I saw the athletes randomly distributing medals to each other. It was a really funny sight for me and spoke to how young our team currently is—and how enthusiastic they are.

3. How do you describe the Rochester athlete? 

To me, the Rochester athlete is curious, dedicated, and gritty. Our rowing team has always prided themselves on working not only harder but also smarter than other teams. Rowing is a repetitive sport, one small technical change to a rower’s stroke, when repeated over and over during a 250 stroke race, can make a big difference overall. I love that our rowers want to understand the reasoning behind each technical change. It makes them more effective rowers because they aren’t just taking direction, they are actually students of the sport.

4. What did being a student athlete teach you?

I learned the importance of having a set routine and time management. For me, being an athlete here helped me also understand the value of having a support system within the team and being there for each other through ups and downs. I also really liked how demanding it was (and is) and that if you put in the effort, it will show. In rowing, you are as good as your effort.

5. What would surprise people to know about you?

I’m a big goofball. Also, I am a dual citizen of the U.S. and Turkey. Growing up, I rowed with a Turkish team every summer. I also spent some time coaching in Hong Kong right after I graduated from college—it was a great experience, and I learned a lot from my boss, a British Olympian.

6. What inspires you?

I once heard a fellow coach say that as soon as coaches start focusing on themselves and what they can accomplish personally versus prioritizing and listening to what the team wants, they lose all of their influence. This idea has really stuck with me and I try to remind myself of this on a regular basis—it’s definitely a source of inspiration and helps me stay focused on what’s best for the team.

7. What’s life like outside of coaching? 

I’m still trying to perfect the work and life balance. I really enjoy racing with my friends on a local rowing team called Flower City Rowing. I also recently became a 46er in the Adirondacks and enjoy spending as much time outside as possible with my little dog, Ham.

Learn more about Coach Sevenler.