LA JOLLA, Calif. – After an extremely successful first season, UC San Diego men's rowing head coach Jeff Collett announced he will step down from his post for personal and family reasons. The 2009 UC San Diego grad led the Tritons to an undefeated spring regular season, culminating in a fourth level final win for the UC San Diego Varsity 8 at the IRA National Championship Regatta earlier this month.
 
"It has been an absolute joy to get a chance to work with this group of athletes, even if for just a single year," Collett said. "I learned a great deal in the process and thoroughly enjoyed working with my assistants, Peter Simeone and Andrew Garrow, along with a whole host of support staff from the athletic department. My supervisor Caitlin Luquet, strength and conditioning coach Angelo Villano, and our athletic trainer Cassidy Smith all contributed to the success and of the team and we were thrilled to have them as part of our team this year."
 
Collett informed the team of his decision on Thursday.

"Something we talked a lot about on the team this year is that you have to make the best decisions with the information you have," Collett added. "While this position was my dream job in the coaching world, I made a decision that best benefits my family long-term and that is what is most important to me. I wish the Tritons the best moving into next season and beyond, and I look forward to contributing as a proud alumnus for the rest of my life."
 
UC San Diego Athletics Director Earl W. Edwards has appointed Tritons' assistant coach Peter Simeone to the role of interim head coach while a national search for the program's next head coach is conducted.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.