Hobart College Director of Athletics Mike Hanna '68 recently announced the appointment of Paul Bugenhagen to serve as the head coach for the Statesmen rowing team for the 2011-12 season. He joins the Hobart coaching staff after six successful seasons as the head coach of the Bucknell University club rowing team.

In 2010-11, Bugenhagen led the Bison to several medal-winning performances, including a gold medal in the novice eight and a bronze medal in the varsity eight at the ECAC National Invitational Collegiate Regatta. Bucknell also won a bronze medal in the men's double at the American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) Championships. The Bison finished third in the team standings at the 2011 ACRA Championships, one year after finishing second.

The 2009 ACRA Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year, Bugenhagen has overseen the development of five ACRA All-Americans, including two in 2010-11, six ACRA All-Mid-Atlantic pics, and 18 ACRA National Academic Team honorees. He also mentored former Bison Kyle Lafferty, who won the men's pair at the 2011 Senior World Championship Trials and won the four at the 2011 USRowing National Championships.

Additionally, Bugenhagen spent three summers as the head coach of the pre-elite program at the Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia. At Vesper, he coached eight U.S. National Champions and 10 crews to gold medals at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. Bugenhagen also spent three summers as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Team.

Prior to Bucknell, Bugenhagen spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Princeton University. He also has served as the head coach of the Carnegie Lake Rowing Association in Princeton, N.J., and of Gainesville Area Rowing.

Bugenhagen earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in exercise and sports science from the University of Florida. He is a USRowing Level III and FISA Level II certified coach.

Bugenhagen replaces Mike Alton, who resigned last month after five and a half seasons at Hobart. Bugenhagen inherits a program that has won six consecutive Liberty League Championships. The Statesmen will open the 2011-12 campaign on Oct. 9, in the HWS Challenge on the Canal.