University of Toledo to Add Women’s Rowing as a Varsity Sport in 2025-26
TOLEDO, Ohio – The University of Toledo announced today, June 2, that it will add women’s rowing as a varsity sport beginning in the 2025-26 school year.
Women’s rowing, which will compete at the NCAA Division I level, will be the 17th varsity sport at Toledo and the first new addition to the Athletics program since women’s soccer was added in 1995. A head coach is expected to be hired later this year, with a full year of acclimation leading into regular season competition in the fall of 2025. The full squad will feature approximately 50-60 student-athletes on its roster.
“We are excited about the many opportunities that adding women’s rowing brings to The University of Toledo, including attracting new students to our campus, supporting the growth of our excellent Rocket Athletics program with a 17th varsity sport, partnering more closely with Metroparks Toledo and strengthening our presence in downtown Toledo,” Interim President Matt Schroeder said. “I appreciate the thoughtfulness of Bryan Blair and his team in thinking creatively for ways that varsity athletics can positively impact our University and our community. We have found that in the addition of women’s rowing.”
“Today is an exciting day for the University of Toledo, Toledo Athletics and the Northwest Ohio community,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair. “Women’s rowing will create new opportunities for female student-athletes, will bring a significant number of high achieving students from Ohio and around the country to our campus, and will be financially beneficial for the University. Moreover, women’s rowing will help grow and nurture new relationships within the Toledo community by enhancing the footprint of Toledo Athletics in downtown Toledo.“
Blair added that no resources would be reallocated from any of Toledo’s current varsity sports, and infrastructure and other start-up costs will be relatively low. The team will practice and compete on the Maumee River and will utilize the Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse in International Park in downtown Toledo. The boathouse is owned by Metroparks Toledo and is operated by the Toledo Rowing Foundation.
“I would like to thank Metroparks Toledo and the Toledo Rowing Foundation for their collaboration in bringing NCAA women’s rowing to Toledo,” said Blair. “This is a perfect example of what can happen when we work together with a #TeamToledo spirit to create an outcome that benefits our entire community.“
The Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse in International Park is part of the transformational Glass City Metropark and Riverwalk project. The $200 million public-private initiative will build a landmark waterfront Metropark and world-class riverfront destination. This initiative will create 300 acres of new and revitalized green space, and a five-mile, multi-purpose trail that will connect six downtown and East Toledo neighborhoods, corporate campuses, small businesses, parks and cultural institutions.
“This morning, our Board of Park Commissioners voted unanimously to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Toledo Athletics and the Toledo Rowing Foundation to continue and grow the sport of rowing on the Toledo riverfront,” said Dave Zenk, executive director of Metroparks Toledo. “The partners will work together to facilitate boathouse renovations that benefit the University, the organizations served by the Rowing Foundation and visitors to the developing Glass City Riverwalk.”
Metroparks Toledo took ownership of International Park earlier this year to expand Glass City Metropark and complete the East Toledo stretch of Riverwalk, which will transform both sides of the Toledo waterfront between the Veterans Glass City Skyway and the Anthony Wayne Bridge. Construction now underway on portions of International Park and downtown will be completed in spring of 2026, while planning continues for the rest of International Park and the Vistula neighborhood.
Formed in 1984, the Toledo Rowing Foundation (TRF) was built to foster, support, and develop amateur athletes for competitive rowing. In February of 2021, TRF began management of the Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse, and recently entered into a long-term partnership with Metroparks Toledo, enabling TRF to continue to support rowing on the Maumee River.
“The Toledo Rowing Foundation is excited to welcome The University of Toledo to the Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse,” said Mike Dibling, chairman of TRF. “Their launch of a Division I rowing program marks a significant milestone in the storied tradition of Toledo rowing, which dates back to the 1800s and found a reemergence with TRF in the 1980s and 90’s with many local high school and adult rowing programs that continue to call the boathouse home today. We are excited to support the university’s efforts to build a strong program that will inspire new generations of rowers on the Mighty Maumee, and elevate our sport within the region. Together, we look forward to continuing to grow the local rowing community and finding great success on the water. We’re excited for new energy the Rockets will bring to our rowing community!”
There are currently 92 NCAA institutions that offer women’s rowing. Schools within the region that sponsor women’s rowing include Ohio State, Dayton, Michigan, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Louisville, West Virginia and Duquesne.
An official news conference to introduce women’s rowing as Toledo’s 17th varsity sport will take place on Wednesday, July 24. Further details on time and location of the news conference will be announced at a later date.
Toledo Women’s Rowing FAQ
Why is The University of Toledo adding women’s rowing as a varsity sport?
Adding women’s rowing will:
1. Attract academically high-achieving female students to our University, thereby positively impacting student enrollment.
2. Provide additional opportunities for high school student-athletes to experience the benefits of participating in a varsity sport.
3. Strengthen the relationship between the University, Metroparks Toledo and the Toledo Rowing Foundation.
4. Bring a greater UToledo “footprint” into downtown Toledo, through, among other things, the hosting of numerous large-scale races on one of the city’s most unique attributes, the Maumee River.
When is The University of Toledo adding women’s rowing as a varsity sport?Women’s rowing will begin competition in the 2025-26 season.
Where will Toledo Women’s Rowing compete?
Toledo Women’s Rowing will train and compete downtown on the Maumee River. The program will use the Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse in International Park.
Who will Toledo Women’s Rowing compete against?
Women’s rowing is currently offered at 92 other Division I universities and colleges, including Ohio State, Dayton, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Louisville, West Virginia, and Duquesne.
When will a head coach be hired?
A search for our first women’s rowing head coach will begin immediately, and that coach, when hired, will begin recruiting student-athletes for the 2025-26 school year.
How many student-athletes will be on the roster?
At this time, we anticipate that approximately 50-60 student-athletes will have the opportunity to compete for the Toledo Women’s Rowing team.
Where will Toledo Women’s Rowing recruiting base come from?
Toledo Women’s Rowing will recruit locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Several area high schools sponsor rowing including Notre Dame Academy, St. Ursula Academy, Central Catholic High School, Perrysburg High School, St. John’s Jesuit High School, and St. Francis de Sales School.
How will Toledo Women’s Rowing be funded? Will resources be reallocated from other varsity sports?
No resources would be reallocated from Toledo’s current 16 varsity sports. Instead, funding will come from self-generated revenue streams, partnerships, and philanthropy. Rowing has relatively small start-up/infrastructure costs compared to other sports. In addition, rowing facilities already exist in the Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse in International Park in downtown Toledo.
Are the rowing facilities part of the MetroParks’ investment in the Glass City Metroparks & Riverwalk?
Yes, the Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse is located in International Park. Metroparks took ownership of International Park earlier this year to expand Glass City Metropark and complete the East Toledo stretch of Riverwalk. The Glass City Metropark and Riverwalk project is a $200 million public-private initiative to build a landmark waterfront Metropark and world-class riverfront destination. This initiative will create 300 acres of new and revitalized green space, naturalize the shoreline, and will reduce storm water runoff to the Maumee River, the largest watershed on the Great Lakes. A five-mile, multi-purpose trail will connect six downtown and East Toledo neighborhoods, corporate campuses, small businesses, parks and cultural institutions.
Why is The University of Toledo adding women’s rowing over other sports?
After a review of several NCAA-sponsored sports, women’s rowing stood out as having the greatest positive impact on the University and for our student-athletes. Plus, women’s rowing has relatively low startup and operational costs, which made it an attractive addition.
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