Lowell McNicholas Named Assistant Coach

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa head rowing coach Jeff Garbutt announced Monday that Lowell McNicholas has joined the Hawkeye program as assistant coach.

“I am thrilled to have Lowell joining our staff,” Garbutt said. “He will bring valuable insight and experience from his time in Madison as an athlete and coach. He will add to staff that I am very excited to get to work with next semester.”

McNicholas joins the Hawkeye coaching staff after previously serving as a volunteer assistant coach for the Wisconsin men’s rowing program.

“I am thrilled to join the Hawkeye rowing team,” McNicholas said. “I am grateful for the last six years working with the Badgers and feel fortunate to now have the opportunity to work with another incredible program. As soon as I met with Coach Garbutt and some of the athletic department staff I knew that Iowa was a team I wanted to be a part of. I look forward to working alongside Coach Garbutt, Thurstin, Fitzpatrick and Pearson, as well as the many other phenomenal people supporting the rowing team. I am excited for this next chapter in Iowa City and eager to meet the team and get to work.”

McNicholas was a two-year letterwinner for the Badgers in 2012 and 2013 and an academic All-Big Ten honoree in 2013. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wisconsin and joined the Badgers coaching staff in 2015. He has six years of collegiate coaching experience.

McNicholas completes the Iowa rowing program’s coaching staff. He joins Garbutt, who was named head coach in October 2021, associate head coach Megan Fitzpatrick, assistant coach Katie Thurstin and graduate assistant Katie Pearson.