Cara Murphy '14 was promoted to become head rowing coach and boathouse director at Mount Holyoke in December 2022, succeeding former head coach Seth Hussey.

"Cara's experience and dedication to the program and the department are without question, and led to this outcome out of an exceptionally strong pool of candidates," said Director of Athletics Jodi Canfield. 

Murphy was named the assistant coach for the rowing program at the start of the 2018-19 season, as well as equipment manager for the Mount Holyoke College Department of Physical Education and Athletics. Murphy is a former four-year standout and captain for the Mount Holyoke rowing team. 

Before Mount Holyoke College

• Served as the head novice coach at Division I Colgate University (2016-2018)
  • Responsible for on-campus recruiting, developing and implementing training plans, while also overseeing the transition of novices into life as a Division 1 student-athlete.
  • Among her successes included seven medal-winning finishes by her novice crews, including winning the 2017 Kerr Cup Novice 8 race.
• Has also served as the head of sculling at Hosmer Point Camp since 2015.
  • Among her responsibilities in that role included developing curricula for sculling programs for youths ages 9-16, whose abilities ranged from novice to competitive racing.
• Assistant coach at Smith College (2014-16)
  • Aided the head coach with lineups, travel arrangements and fundraising.
  • Also coached the team’s third and fourth varsity boats, while performing a majority of rigging and maintenance on various rowing equipment.

As a student-athlete at MHC

• A three-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference selection.
• An All-Conference honoree as a junior.
• A Seven Sisters Scholar-Athlete, named to multiple ECAC/NIRC All-Academic Teams, as well as a CRCA National Scholar-Athlete.
• She also served as the team manager for the Lyons swimming and diving team for two seasons.

Personal

• A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Murphy graduated with a B.A. in Psychology in from Mount Holyoke in 2014. She went on to earn her Master of Science in Sports and Exercise Studies from Smith College in 2016.

The Mount Holyoke College Department of Athletics and head rowing coach Cara Murphy announced the appointment of former UC San Diego coach and student-athlete Jeff Collett as the first-ever full-time assistant coach in the program's history at the start of the 2024-25 academic year.

Among the first of several full-time assistant coaches Mount Holyoke Athletics is hiring this year, Collett brings a wealth of experience from his extensive background in rowing and coaching. A former scholar-athlete at UC San Diego, Collett was a key member of the Varsity 8+ crew that helped the Tritons reach new heights, including a historic appearance at the IRA Championships in 2009. His dedication to the sport earned him All-WIRA First Team honors during his time there. Collett later returned to UC San Diego as an assistant coach, where he played a pivotal role in developing the program's success, particularly in recruiting and coaching crews that consistently dominated the Western Sprints Championships.

"I am excited to join the Mount Holyoke College community as the new assistant rowing coach," Collett said. "With over a decade of coaching experience, including time spent as the head coach of the UC San Diego men's rowing team, I have seen firsthand how the efforts of a dedicated coaching staff can build a team's legacy. My wife, a professor of neuroscience at Mount Holyoke, and our two daughters are thrilled to be part of this vibrant community, and we are all looking forward to this new chapter in our lives."

Before his tenure at UC San Diego, Collett served as the head coach at Newport Aquatic Center, where he successfully led the program to top finishes in the Southwest Region. His experience spans over a decade, including significant roles in youth rowing and a unique stint in the e-sports industry as Director of Operations at Cloud9 Training Grounds.

Collett is eager to contribute to the continued growth and success of the team by fostering resilience and excellence both on and off the water.

"I believe that coaching allows us to guide young scholar-athletes through challenging times and adversity, building resilience that will carry them to future successes beyond the boathouse," he said. "I look forward to working with Coach Murphy and the athletes at Mount Holyoke, helping them prepare academically and athletically while developing their skillsets beyond the boathouse."