MEDFORD, MA (July 31, 2025) - Tufts Athletics is mourning the loss of former rowing coach Brian Dawe, who passed away on July 6. He was 77.
Dawe was a longtime women's coach and staunch supporter of Tufts Rowing. He started coaching the Jumbos in 2009 and spent 15 years with the program. During his time, both squads benefited heavily from his insight and generosity. The teams became nationally competitive in part due to his time and efforts.
"Brian's passion for rowing and his care for rowers will be truly missed," said Tufts Director of Rowing
George Munger. "His impact was felt deeply at Tufts Rowing and throughout the NESCAC rowing community."
Among the team's highlights during his time as head coach of the Tufts women's team was a sixth-place finish by the varsity eight at the NCAA Championships in 2015. After stepping down as head coach, he remained a part-time assistant coach and helped direct the team to three straight NCAA appearances from 2022-2024. In his final season (2023-24), he was part of the Tufts coaching staff that was named CRCA National Staff of the Year after Tufts won its first-ever NCAA Championship.
After graduating from Wesleyan University in 1970, Dawe was the Cardinal rowing program's first coach in 1971. He went on to coach at Williams College in 1973, switched to coaching high school at the Bromfield School in 2002, then went back to Wesleyan, before landing at Tufts. He also taught sculling at the Florida Rowing Center in Wellington in the winter and for the Anchorage Rowing Association in Alaska in the summer. He taught mathematics and coached crew at Brooks and Belmont Hill Schools in the Greater Boston area as well. Dawe also worked as a principal software engineer with Agfa Corporation.
The Tufts Rowing team will host a celebration of Brian's life at the Shoemaker Boathouse this fall, with the time and date to be announced.
--JUMBOS--
