Emily Culmone, NSU’s new assistant rowing coach, is excited for the program’s future.
Surrounded by water since the age of 3, Culmone brings extensive rowing experience and a positive attitude to help lead the Sharks to victory.
Growing up right outside of Atlantic City, N.J., Culmone was introduced to rowing during her freshman year of high school when her passion for the sport began to sprout.
COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS Emily Culmone, assistant rowing coach.
“My dad convinced me to try out for the new water sport and on my first day rowing, I fell in love with it,” Culmone said.
Culmone’s college years consisted of one semester at Washington College in Chestertown, Md., then transferring to Stockton University in Galloway Township, N.J. in 2018. Culmone’s time at Stockton was well spent, as she captained the rowing team for three years and led them to top-three finishes at Dad Vail Regetta as well as third place at the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Championships in 2021.
While also achieving First Team All-Conference rower in 2022, Culmone graduated from Stockton that fall. Culmone’s many rowing accomplishments, love for the sport and a push from a particular peer eventually led to her career in coaching.
“My coach at Stockton, John Bancheri, really inspired me to follow the path of coaching,” Culmone said.
Culmone began coaching at Stockton for its Youth Rowing Program during the summer with Bancheri at her side.
“Throughout rebuilding the rowing program at Stockton, he really inspired me to be a coach, so I’m hoping to continue his legacy and maybe one day be even better than him,” Culmone said.
Culmone coached rowing at Ocean City High School in Ocean City, N.J., after graduating until coming to NSU.
Not only did Bancheri inspire Culmone to become a coach, he also pushed her to take her abilities to NSU.
“As Bancheri was approaching retirement, he told me he did not feel he was done until I got a coaching job,” Culmone said. “He actually applied me for the assistant coaching job at NSU without telling me, which was surprising, but I was excited.”
As Culmone begins her coaching career at NSU, she will use her collegiate rowing experience and unique perspective as a guide to become the coach she wants to be.
Culmone puts an emphasis on student athlete’s mental health. As a recent student athlete, Culmone knows exactly what her team needs to succeed.
“I do really want to focus on mental health because I remember being in college feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork and early morning practices,” Culmone said. “Nobody is putting forth their best effort when they are feeling overwhelmed, so it’s important to know that somebody is paying attention to how you’re feeling as a person, not just an athlete.”
Culmone and Kimberly Chavers, rowing head coach, will rebuild the program to create a powerhouse of rowing Sharks.
For more information:
To keep up with the rowing team this season, follow its Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, @nsu_rowing.
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