STANFORD, Calif. - Ted Sobolewski has been named Stanford's Farwell Family Director of Men's Rowing, as announced Tuesday by Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics Bernard Muir.
Sobolewski joins the Cardinal after serving as the associate head coach at Northeastern for the previous four seasons. Most recently in 2019, Sobolewski was instrumental in guiding Northeastern to a seventh-place finish as a team, including the first varsity recording its best finish since 2013 with a fifth-place showing in the Grand Final.
During Sobolewski's tenure at Northeastern, he was responsible for domestic and international student-athlete recruiting, development of training plans and academic support, among other areas.
"I am excited for the future of our program under Ted's leadership," said Muir. "Ted has experienced success at all levels of the sport. I believe that Ted will motivate our student-athletes to be the best on the water, in the classroom and in the community."
"I am incredibly excited to join the Stanford Athletics family," said Sobolewski, who also boasts experience as a two-time member of the United States Under-23 National Team during his collegiate career as a rower at Northeastern. "One of Stanford's goals is to 'Inspire Champions in Life' and it is clear that this ideal permeates all levels of Stanford Athletics. I am humbled to have the opportunity to embrace and advance this goal as the head coach of Stanford Men's Rowing."
"I want to sincerely thank Bernard Muir and Jamie Breslin for their belief in me, and for providing me the opportunity to shape the student-athlete experience for our program. I am excited to get to know and start working with our student-athletes. I know the team is comprised of intelligent and motivated individuals who are eager to achieve at the highest levels of sport and academics. With a professional approach, and a culture built around hard work and integrity, I am confident we can achieve excellence on and off the water."
During Sobolewski's first year back at his alma mater in 2016, Northeastern faced adversity throughout the spring season, but responded when it mattered most. After both the first and second varsity boats finished seventh at the Eastern Sprints, lineup changes shifted four freshmen, three sophomores, and one junior and senior for the IRA Championships. At the national regatta, despite racing four times throughout the weekend, the first varsity won the petite final to take seventh in the country, marking the first time since 1984 that the Huskies' varsity finished seventh or better in four straight seasons.
Two years ago, Northeastern concluded its season with a victory in the petite final of the first varsity, finishing seventh in the nation for the second straight season. The Huskies, seeded ninth entering the championships, finished two spots ahead of its seed in the first varsity, while the third varsity finished eighth and the second varsity 11th under sunny skies and calm conditions on Lake Natoma.
In 2018, Northeastern finished sixth at the IRA Championships, thanks to the first varsity setting the tone with a victory in the Petite Final to place seventh in the country while the Huskies' second varsity took fifth in the Grand Final, and the third varsity finished sixth as all eights boats finished at or above their seeds entering the weekend.
Prior to Northeastern, Sobolewski served as the head coach with the Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA). Sobolewski was directly responsible for organizing and administering the rowing programs for 220 high school and adult athletes at the U.S. Olympic Training site at Mercer Lake. Sobolewski worked with all aspects of the association, both in the coaching realm and with administrative duties.
As a coach, Sobolewski led the Mercer Junior Women's crews to their best performances in the history of the program. Sobolewski coached the women's 8+ to a runner-up finish and women's lightweight 8+ to a third-place effort at the 2015 Youth Nationals and followed that result up with an unprecedented sweep of all U19 and U17 Women's events at the 2015 Royal Canadian Henley, bringing home nine total gold medals as a club. His crews have also had successful performances at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta.
Sobolewski's first coaching experience at Northeastern came in a volunteer assistant capacity during the 2010-11 campaign, working with head coach John Pojednic in all aspects of developing and training the freshman eight, which finished third at the Eastern Sprints. He also oversaw the second freshman group, which took the gold in the 4+ at Sprints. Following the 2011 spring season, Sobolewski was promoted to assistant coach, and organized all team practice and race travel logistics while assisting with the recruiting process in accordance with NCAA regulations.
As a student-athlete at Northeastern from 2005-08, Sobolewski competed with the freshman eight during the 2005 season before rowing in the varsity eight during his final three seasons. In the 1V, Sobolewski helped the Huskies to two appearances in the Grand Final of the Eastern Sprints, including a fourth-place finish in 2006. Sobolewski was also a two-time member of the United States Under-23 National Team, rowing in the quad in 2006 and 2007 at the World Championships in Hazewinkel, Belgium and Glasgow, Scotland, respectively.
A native of Buffalo, New York, Sobolewski graduated from Northeastern in 2009 with a degree in business administration, with a concentration in accounting.