On this week’s episode of the For Stars Podcast, Hudson brings on Head Coach of Penn Heavyweight Rowing, Al Monte, a man who lives and breathes Philadelphia. Entering his third season this year with the Quakers, Al is back in the boathouse and ready to take on this next year. Hudson and Al discuss the 2023-2024 season where the team went neck and neck with Northeastern, inches apart from one another at the IRA National Championship closing in with nearly the same time to end the year. Al calls it somewhat of a rivalry, so we shall see how this year unfolds for both of the teams out East. The two talk about what makes Penn Rowing so unique, the maturation of the squad since his arrival, upgrades to the boathouse, what the process looks like of bringing on the right guys to the team, and more.

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
Make your rowing dreams real! Use Code “FORSTARS” for $200 OFF on your desired training package!

Vespoli USA
Whether you need one boat or a fleet, Vespoli USA has you covered, providing stability and comfort.

On this week’s episode of the For Stars Podcast, Hudson brings on Head Coach of Princeton Heavyweight Rowing, Greg Hughes, a staple in collegiate men’s rowing. Entering his 16th season this year, Greg is ready to get back in the coaching launch and drive his team to another amazing season. Hudson and Greg discuss the 2023-2024 season where the team went undefeated in the regular season, and the unbelievable race at the Eastern Sprints that lead up to the IRA National Championship in New Jersey. The two talk about recruiting, land training, facilities, erging in the winter, the team’s principles, media in the sport and where it’s leading, the power of student-athlete development, what it means to row for Princeton, and more!

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
Make your rowing dreams real! Use Code “FORSTARS” for $200 OFF on your desired training package!

Welcome everyone to Episode 100 of the For Stars Podcast, where we bring you an individual who has impacted the lives of countless student-athletes, Jake Coert, Former Head Coach of Channel Islands Rowing Club, a junior rowing program nestled in Southern California. Hudson was under the tutelage of Jake in his early years as a coxswain, and only felt that it was right to bring on the coach that changed his life forever.

Jake was a rower on the 2012 US Junior National Team before making his way over to row at Cal. He spent time coaching the Men’s Team at UCLA, and shortly after began coaching on the Channel Islands Harbor where he helped start the Channel Islands Rowing Club (CIRC) in 2018.

On this episode we discuss the importance of student-athlete development and how crucial it is for coaches to prioritize growth in a program. The two discuss what it takes to be an elite athlete and how many sessions on average that will take per week, in order to compete with the best of the best in the sport. We touch on the reality of small boat-clubs and competing against programs that suit a larger roster of athletes, with more financial support and better boats and equipment. In addition to that, suiting coxswains in programs that have a limited amount of rowers, and what to do with that predicament. Jake gives a plethora of advice to coaches out there from his personal experience coaching juniors and how rewarding it is to see his athletes continue to prosper in the collegiate sphere as well as post-rowing. Be sure to tune into this episode and reach out to him on Instagram @jakecoert with any questions or comments.