TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne announced that Kumari Lewis has been named head coach of the Crimson Tide rowing program. Lewis comes to the Capstone from Penn, where she spent the last eight years on the coaching staff including the last two as the team’s associate head coach and recruiting coordinator.

“We are excited to welcome Kumari Lewis as the next head coach of Alabama Rowing,” Byrne said. “She is widely regarded as one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the sport and came highly recommended by many throughout the search process. Coach Lewis has a proven track record of success in one of the most competitive rowing conferences in the nation and has been instrumental in Penn’s past recruiting efforts. She brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm and is a wonderful addition to our outstanding lineup of coaches.”

During her time at Penn, the Quakers made significant strides on the water, advancing to the program’s first four full-team appearances at the NCAA Championship in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. In addition, Penn’s NCAA boats won five medals at the Ivy League Championship, three from the Varsity Eight and two from the 2V8.

“I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to lead this incredible group of women at Alabama, “Lewis said. “This team has the capacity to do something exceptional, and I am excited to help make that happen alongside an amazing staff. The University community is unparalleled, and I am humbled by the opportunity to be part of it. Row Tide!”

Kumari Lewis Bio

• 2023 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Region I Staff of the Year
• Helped lead the Quakers to four consecutive NCAA Championships (2022-25), the only time that’s happened in program history
• Back-to-back top 10 finishes at NCAAs in 2023 (6^th) and 2024 (10^th)
• In 2024, all three boats earned top 12 finishes (1V8 10th, 2V8 10th, V4A 11th) at NCAAs – a first in Penn’s program history 
• Helped guide Penn to an 11^th-place result at the 2022 NCAA Championships 
• Coached with United States Rowing for the U.S. Junior National High Performance Camp in 2019 and the Junior National Olympic Development Camp in 2021
• Spent the summers of 2017 and 2018 as a resident assistant with the U.S. Rowing Junior National Selection Camp in New London, Conn.
• Arrived at Penn from nearby Harriton High School, where she served as that program’s varsity girls’ coach for the 2016-17 year as well as the 2017 fall season
• Rowed collegiately at Bucknell University, after picking up the sport at the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J. 
• First-team All-Patriot League rower
• Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and a College Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) National Scholar Athlete recipient
• Studied abroad in Namibia, South Africa and France as a Bucknell undergrad, and was a Dean’s List student who was a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors Society and the Alpha Lambda Delta Academic Fraternity
• Graduated from Bucknell with a degree in political science and minors in art history and French
• Following graduation, rowed for the Vesper U23 team on Boathouse Row
• Kumari and her husband, Shawn, were married in 2019

While appropriate members of The Board of Trustees have been notified of the proposed terms and conditions of this proposed appointment, the financial terms remain subject to approval by The Board of Trustees.