Thomson Promoted to Associate Head Coach
August 12, 2024 | Women's Rowing
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA women's rowing program announced the promotion of Anna Thomson from assistant coach to associate head coach on Monday.
Prior to her promotion, Thomson worked as an assistant coach for six seasons in Westwood, helping with all aspects of the program, including development, high performance and recruitment.
"I could not be more in support of this promotion," head coach Previn Chandraratna said. "The growth of this program is due in no small part to Anna's relentless work on the recruiting trail and on the water. The personal touch that she brings, along with her high-performance experience from New Zealand and from an outstanding college career, has helped to drive this program forward in an exciting new direction."
With Thomson in charge of the second varsity eight crew in 2024, the boat had another strong season. The Bruins' 2V8+ boat beat USC twice throughout the season, at the start of the year in the opening tri-meet with USC and LMU, as well as at the Pac-12 Championships. Additionally, the second varsity eight group finished in front of multiple opponents at the Big Ten Invite, beating the likes of Clemson, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Oregon State throughout the two-day regatta.
"I am truly grateful to Previn and UCLA Athletics for being promoted to Associate Head Coach," Thomson said. "With an incredible team and an extremely talented incoming class joining us this fall, our future is exceptionally bright as we embark on this new chapter in the Big Ten Conference."
In 2023, the Bruins registered strong finishes at the two-day Big Ten Invitational in Sarasota, Fla., and at the Dexter Lake Invitational in Lowell, Ore. UCLA had first-place finishes in all four races on the first morning of the Big Ten Invitational, closing the weekend with five first-place finishes. Three weeks later at the Dexter Lake Invitational, UCLA's boats compiled top-three finishes in seven of eight total races.
The Bruins' 2022 spring season was highlighted by a strong varsity eight crew that defeated crosstown rival USC in the season-opening race and finished ahead of No. 19 Washington State to close the spring campaign. As a program, UCLA was ranked as high as No. 16 midway through the year.
In 2021, UCLA raced to a trio of dual-meet wins against Loyola Marymount, USC and San Diego. The Bruins' program returned to the water in the fall of 2020 after the spring season (2020) had been substantially abbreviated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bruins opened the spring of 2020 with a dual-meet win against San Diego State, winning all four races.
In 2019, Thomson helped the Bruins to a fourth-place team finish at Pac-12 Championships, as UCLA finished ahead of Washington State, Oregon State and crosstown rival USC. She worked with the novice eight crew that finished third in the Grand Final race at the San Diego Crew Classic and recorded a bronze medal finish at Pac-12 Championships.
Prior to joining UCLA in the fall of 2018, Thomson coached the Wellington Rowing Club, working with the women's squad alongside Joe O'Neill. In 2017, she successfully created and coached the Wellington U19 development squad preparing high school rowers for U.S. collegiate recruitment and New Zealand National team selection.
Thomson rowed for the University of Texas (Austin), graduating in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in radio, television and film. Through her career at Texas, she helped the rowing program to four consecutive Big 12 Conference titles, in addition to winning the 2011 C-USA Championship. In the classroom, Thomson was a three-time recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award. She was named the Texas rowing team's academic MVP in 2011 and was selected to the Big 12 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll all four seasons. Thomson was also named a CRCA Scholar-Athlete in 2011.
Prior to her time attending Texas, Thomson was selected to the New Zealand National High Performance program as a member of the U21 Central High Performance team. She earned silver medals in the U21 eight and U21 quad at the New Zealand National Rowing Championship.
Thomson grew up in Wellington, New Zealand, where she began rowing in high school for Star Boating Club and Wellington Girls' College. She was a New Zealand National Team junior trialist and was twice honored as the Star Boating Club School's rower of the year.
Prior to her promotion, Thomson worked as an assistant coach for six seasons in Westwood, helping with all aspects of the program, including development, high performance and recruitment.
"I could not be more in support of this promotion," head coach Previn Chandraratna said. "The growth of this program is due in no small part to Anna's relentless work on the recruiting trail and on the water. The personal touch that she brings, along with her high-performance experience from New Zealand and from an outstanding college career, has helped to drive this program forward in an exciting new direction."
With Thomson in charge of the second varsity eight crew in 2024, the boat had another strong season. The Bruins' 2V8+ boat beat USC twice throughout the season, at the start of the year in the opening tri-meet with USC and LMU, as well as at the Pac-12 Championships. Additionally, the second varsity eight group finished in front of multiple opponents at the Big Ten Invite, beating the likes of Clemson, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Oregon State throughout the two-day regatta.
"I am truly grateful to Previn and UCLA Athletics for being promoted to Associate Head Coach," Thomson said. "With an incredible team and an extremely talented incoming class joining us this fall, our future is exceptionally bright as we embark on this new chapter in the Big Ten Conference."
In 2023, the Bruins registered strong finishes at the two-day Big Ten Invitational in Sarasota, Fla., and at the Dexter Lake Invitational in Lowell, Ore. UCLA had first-place finishes in all four races on the first morning of the Big Ten Invitational, closing the weekend with five first-place finishes. Three weeks later at the Dexter Lake Invitational, UCLA's boats compiled top-three finishes in seven of eight total races.
The Bruins' 2022 spring season was highlighted by a strong varsity eight crew that defeated crosstown rival USC in the season-opening race and finished ahead of No. 19 Washington State to close the spring campaign. As a program, UCLA was ranked as high as No. 16 midway through the year.
In 2021, UCLA raced to a trio of dual-meet wins against Loyola Marymount, USC and San Diego. The Bruins' program returned to the water in the fall of 2020 after the spring season (2020) had been substantially abbreviated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bruins opened the spring of 2020 with a dual-meet win against San Diego State, winning all four races.
In 2019, Thomson helped the Bruins to a fourth-place team finish at Pac-12 Championships, as UCLA finished ahead of Washington State, Oregon State and crosstown rival USC. She worked with the novice eight crew that finished third in the Grand Final race at the San Diego Crew Classic and recorded a bronze medal finish at Pac-12 Championships.
Prior to joining UCLA in the fall of 2018, Thomson coached the Wellington Rowing Club, working with the women's squad alongside Joe O'Neill. In 2017, she successfully created and coached the Wellington U19 development squad preparing high school rowers for U.S. collegiate recruitment and New Zealand National team selection.
Thomson rowed for the University of Texas (Austin), graduating in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in radio, television and film. Through her career at Texas, she helped the rowing program to four consecutive Big 12 Conference titles, in addition to winning the 2011 C-USA Championship. In the classroom, Thomson was a three-time recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award. She was named the Texas rowing team's academic MVP in 2011 and was selected to the Big 12 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll all four seasons. Thomson was also named a CRCA Scholar-Athlete in 2011.
Prior to her time attending Texas, Thomson was selected to the New Zealand National High Performance program as a member of the U21 Central High Performance team. She earned silver medals in the U21 eight and U21 quad at the New Zealand National Rowing Championship.
Thomson grew up in Wellington, New Zealand, where she began rowing in high school for Star Boating Club and Wellington Girls' College. She was a New Zealand National Team junior trialist and was twice honored as the Star Boating Club School's rower of the year.
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