Sandy Calfo Hired as University at Buffalo Rowing Head Coach
BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo Director of Athletics Danny White has announced the hiring of Sandy Calfo as head coach of the women's rowing program. Calfo replaces Rudy Wieler who retired in May after 11 years at the helm of the program.
Calfo comes to Buffalo from Purdue where she served as the women's varsity coach of the Boilermakers championship program. She led Purdue to the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Women's Point Trophy in 2011 and 2012. In 2011, Purdue won the Jack and Nancy Seitz Trophy as the women's points champion of the Dad Vail Regatta – the same trophy UB had won the previous three straight years. Calfo was named the American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2011.
"We are excited to welcome Sandy to the UB family," said White. "She brings a wealth of knowledge and has coached at the highest levels of collegiate rowing. She has won championships at Purdue and Gonzaga and I look forward to that continuing at Buffalo."
Prior to being hired at Purdue, Calfo had assistant coaching stints at Cincinnati and Gonzaga.
Beginning in 2005, Calfo served as an assistant women's rowing coach at Cincinnati for two years. She coached the novice women's program and served as the recruiting coordinator.
While at Gonzaga, Calfo was the novice team coach, developing training and workout routines and working with the squad's newcomers. She was also the primary recruiter for the Gonzaga program.
Calfo's crews found great success at Gonzaga, winning the West Coast Conference championship in the JV8 in 2005 and winning a Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) crown.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to coach at the University at Buffalo and thrilled to be a part of the Buffalo family," Calfo said. "I look forward to working with the current student athletes and expanding upon the success of the rowing program."
Calfo began her coaching career at Purdue as novice women's coach from 2000-2003.
Calfo graduated from Purdue in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Education and Psychology. She went on to earn a Masters of Education in Educational Psychology from Purdue in 2003. As a competitive rower, Calfo was voted her team's Most Valuable Oarswoman in 1999 and earned two medals with the varsity 8 at the Dad Vail Regatta.