Anna Thomson - Women's Rowing Coach

Anna Thomson

Title:
Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator
Alma Mater:
Texas, '12

Anna Thomson, who is in her sixth year with the UCLA women’s rowing program, currently serves as the interim head coach with the Bruins. Previously, she was promoted to associate head coach on Aug. 12, 2024.

Thomson works in an assistant capacity for all aspects of the program, including development, high performance and recruitment. She serves as the rowing program’s recruiting coordinator and coaches the eights and the fours. As a former Division I rower and student-athlete, she has become a great resource to UCLA’s student-athletes.

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.

In her free time, Thomson enjoys yoga, hiking outdoors and video editing.