I have never rowed before. Can I still join the team?

Absolutely. In fact, nearly 75% of our current roster had never touched an oar before walking onto campus. We aren't looking for past rowing experience; we are looking for people like us. We want tough, driven athletes who crave a physical challenge. Our team is made up of former high school swimmers, cross-country runners, basketball players, and raw athletes who simply wanted to represent Notre Dame on a national stage. If you have the drive and the competitive mindset, we will teach you the stroke. You will fit right in.

Who does Notre Dame compete against?

We line up against the best. Our schedule puts us side-by-side with varsity powerhouses like Michigan, Virginia, and UCLA. But we don't just show up to participate—we train to beat them. When you are in our boats, you are competing alongside teammates who share your exact level of ambition, hunting speed and chasing medals at the absolute highest level of collegiate club rowing.

Will this impact my academic performance?

Yes—it will likely make you a better student. The athletes here are just as driven in the classroom as they are on the water, and historically, the team’s GPA sits well above the University’s average. When you join this team, you are instantly plugged into a built-in academic support system. You will be surrounded by upperclassmen who have already mastered the exact same grueling engineering, finance, and pre-med classes you are taking. Our alumni go on to top medical schools and elite firms because the discipline you learn at the boathouse translates to everything you do. We expect you to achieve at the highest level, and we give you the community to help you do it.

Where and when do we row?

We train out of the state-of-the-art McConnell Family Boathouse on the St. Joseph River, just 1.5 miles south of campus. It is more than a multimillion-dollar premier training facility; for our athletes, it quickly becomes a second home. To help you adjust to your first semester of college, our novice (first-year) squad practices in the evenings, five days a week during the fall. We deliberately built this schedule so you can master the sport while easily balancing your transition into campus life.

How do I start?

We hold information sessions at the McConnell Family Boathouse at the beginning of the fall semester, but you don't need to wait to claim your spot. Fill out our recruiting form below today, or reach out directly to Head Coach Stephen Lambers at stephen.lambers@gmail.com We are ready to welcome you to the team.