Chandraratna Named Assistant Coach
August 05, 2015 | Women's Rowing
Chandraratna, a 1997 graduate of Columbia University, arrives in Westwood with 16 years of coaching experience, including seven years working with collegiate rowing programs.
"We're thrilled to have Previn on board,” Fuller Kearney said. “He brings the experience, knowledge and enthusiasm that we were hoping for when we filled this position. I'm so impressed by the breadth and success of his coaching career to this point. He is a true professional and will have an immediate impact on our program.”
Chandraratna comes to UCLA after having served as an assistant coach and director of recruiting with the women's rowing team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 2014 at MIT, he helped the program to its fastest team finish in program history. The squad made appearances in the Grand Finals of its regional championships in all events during his three years in Cambridge, Mass.
Prior to his time at MIT, Chandraratna served as freshman heavyweight coach and director of recruiting at his alma mater, Columbia University, for four years. During his tenure at Columbia, the team earned a national ranking as high as No. 9.
"I'm truly excited to be part of an institution with such a strong history of academic and athletic excellence,” Chandraratna said. “Coach Fuller Kearney, one of our sport's greatest figures, has molded this team from its infancy into one of our country's premier programs. I can't wait to help add to this program's success.”
Chandraratna also brings 10 years of scholastic coaching experience. He worked as head coach of Row New York and as an assistant coach at Pelham Community Rowing, where he helped lead squads to 10 state titles and one national championship. As Director of Programs at Row New York, he helped the program win the prestigious US Rowing Anita de Frantz Golden Oars Award.
As a rower, Chandraratna earned Most Valuable Player honors as the stroke seat of the heavyweights program at Columbia. He earned national level medals with NYAC and Union BC and trained with the U.S. national team at the National Sculling Center in Augusta, Ga.
Chandraratna, who grew up in the Los Angeles area, earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in international relations from Columbia. He currently resides in Playa del Rey, Calif.
