UCLA Rowing Announces Vanessa Tavalero as Head Coach
July 03, 2025 | Women's Rowing
LOS ANGELES โ Vanessa Tavalero has been named head coach of UCLA Rowing, The Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond announced Thursday, July 3.
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"Vanessa brings championship-level experience to our program, both as an assistant under some of the top coaches in the nation, and as a two-time national champion rower," said Jarmond. "Her strong leadership qualities stood out immediately, and we are excited to bring her aboard to begin a new era of UCLA Rowing."
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Tavalero most recently served as the associate head coach for the Cal Golden Bears, rejoining Berkeley's coaching staff in August 2024. She spent the 2011-2019 seasons as an assistant coach Cal and served as a volunteer assistant coach her first year on the staff.
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"I am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead UCLA Women's Rowing," said Tavalero. "I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Martin Jarmond, Kayla Shirey, and the entire UCLA Athletics department for their trust and support. Throughout my career, I have been inspired by programs that empower student-athletes through inclusion, discipline, and a pursuit of excellenceโvalues that are at the very heart of the Bruin community.
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UCLA's proud tradition of athletic and academic achievement makes this a special place, and I am committed to building on that legacy with a team culture grounded in respect, character, and relentless effort. Our goal will always be to help our student-athletes become the best versions of themselves, on and off the water. I'm excited to join the incredible staff at UCLA and work alongside our talented student-athletes as we strive together for excellence. Go Bruins!"
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Prior to her return to Berkeley, Tavalero was an assistant coach at Saint Mary's from 2020-2022.
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"UCLA is extremely fortunate to have Coach Tavalero lead the next generation of Bruins," said Cal head coach Al Acosta. "Vanessa was a huge part of our NCAA Championship and podium finishing teams here at Cal. Vanessa is also one of the few who have won NCAA championships as an athlete and a coach. More importantly, she's a great person, mother, and role model. The Bruins are in very good hands!"
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Tavalero is a graduate and former rower at Washington, where she also was an assistant coach from 2010-11. Tavalero also served as an assistant coach at UC Davis (2009-10), the novice coach at Sacramento State (2007-09) and the novice coach for Capital Crew (2004-07).
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Rowing as a senior in 2000, Tavalero led the Huskies to a second-place team finish at the NCAA Championships, also claiming second in the varsity eight grand final. That boat also won the 2000 Pac-10 Championship and was victorious at the Henley Regatta. The conference championship was the third of three straight Pac-10 titles for Tavalero and the Huskies in the varsity eight. She rowed on the Husky varsity eight boat beginning in her sophomore campaign. During her freshman season, Tavalero also won the Pac-10 championship in the freshman eight.
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Tavalero's efforts at Washington helped the Huskies garner back-to-back team NCAA Championships in 1997 and 1998, her freshman and sophomore seasons.
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Prior to attending Washington, Tavalero was a member of the U.S. Junior National team from 1994-95.
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A native of Fair Oaks, Calif., Tavalero graduated from Washington in 2000 with a degree in metals and jewelry.
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"Vanessa brings championship-level experience to our program, both as an assistant under some of the top coaches in the nation, and as a two-time national champion rower," said Jarmond. "Her strong leadership qualities stood out immediately, and we are excited to bring her aboard to begin a new era of UCLA Rowing."
ย
Tavalero most recently served as the associate head coach for the Cal Golden Bears, rejoining Berkeley's coaching staff in August 2024. She spent the 2011-2019 seasons as an assistant coach Cal and served as a volunteer assistant coach her first year on the staff.
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"I am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead UCLA Women's Rowing," said Tavalero. "I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Martin Jarmond, Kayla Shirey, and the entire UCLA Athletics department for their trust and support. Throughout my career, I have been inspired by programs that empower student-athletes through inclusion, discipline, and a pursuit of excellenceโvalues that are at the very heart of the Bruin community.
ย
UCLA's proud tradition of athletic and academic achievement makes this a special place, and I am committed to building on that legacy with a team culture grounded in respect, character, and relentless effort. Our goal will always be to help our student-athletes become the best versions of themselves, on and off the water. I'm excited to join the incredible staff at UCLA and work alongside our talented student-athletes as we strive together for excellence. Go Bruins!"
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Prior to her return to Berkeley, Tavalero was an assistant coach at Saint Mary's from 2020-2022.
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"UCLA is extremely fortunate to have Coach Tavalero lead the next generation of Bruins," said Cal head coach Al Acosta. "Vanessa was a huge part of our NCAA Championship and podium finishing teams here at Cal. Vanessa is also one of the few who have won NCAA championships as an athlete and a coach. More importantly, she's a great person, mother, and role model. The Bruins are in very good hands!"
ย
Tavalero is a graduate and former rower at Washington, where she also was an assistant coach from 2010-11. Tavalero also served as an assistant coach at UC Davis (2009-10), the novice coach at Sacramento State (2007-09) and the novice coach for Capital Crew (2004-07).
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Rowing as a senior in 2000, Tavalero led the Huskies to a second-place team finish at the NCAA Championships, also claiming second in the varsity eight grand final. That boat also won the 2000 Pac-10 Championship and was victorious at the Henley Regatta. The conference championship was the third of three straight Pac-10 titles for Tavalero and the Huskies in the varsity eight. She rowed on the Husky varsity eight boat beginning in her sophomore campaign. During her freshman season, Tavalero also won the Pac-10 championship in the freshman eight.
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Tavalero's efforts at Washington helped the Huskies garner back-to-back team NCAA Championships in 1997 and 1998, her freshman and sophomore seasons.
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Prior to attending Washington, Tavalero was a member of the U.S. Junior National team from 1994-95.
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A native of Fair Oaks, Calif., Tavalero graduated from Washington in 2000 with a degree in metals and jewelry.
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