Following the September resignation of NSU’s head women’s rowing coach, Kim Chavers, the program welcomes Nicholas Iliadis as interim head coach.
Just one month after joining the rowing program as assistant head coach in August, Iliadis was appointed head coach.
“These past two weeks have been fantastic,” Iliadis said. “We’re starting to get into a groove and we’re moving up and up.”
While this was a surprise for Iliadis, he is confident in his ability to lead the team to a successful 2024- 2025 season.
“This is the perfect timing for everything,” Iliadis said. “I heard that the team was coming back after getting cut previously to COVID restrictions so I’m excited to help grow it.”
During the 2023-2024 season, former head coach Chavers and the team navigated new challenges as the rowing program resumed operations at NSU following the COVID-19 hiatus. The Sharks earned two victories at the FIRA Championships last season, two student-athletes were recognized to All-Sunshine State Conference teams and six were recognized as CRCA Scholar-Athletes.
Despite competing and being reinstated last season, this year marks the first full season for the rowing program. With 19 current rowers and eight incoming following recent tryouts, Iliadis aims to build upon last season’s successes and revitalize the program.
“I’m calling this period of rowing in NSU the revenge tour, where we’re researching and looking to make a name for ourselves,” Iliadis said.
Amanda Bogle, senior environmental science major and rower, shares her experience with Iliadis following the coaching staff change.
“When I first met him, I thought he was really nice and I really liked him,” Bogle said. “Then he started coaching us more and we got to know him and I was like ‘oh this guy’s a really good coach and he gives us really good feedback right away,’ which I was really thankful for.”
Chrysta Snair, junior pre-law major and rower, shares similar views to Bogle, showing appreciation for Iliadis’ feedback and encouragement.
“He listens to everything we have to say and he’s very good at giving feedback and helping us make improvements,” Snair said. “He’s very attentive to that and he’s definitely pushing all of us to work harder because I think he knows that we can do more than what we did last year and even what he’s seeing right now.”
Beyond offering constructive feedback, Iliadis strives to foster a fun and competitive environment that the team embraces.
“I pride myself on the mentality that this is supposed to be fun,” Iliadis said. “We provide a fun and competitive environment that the girls want to buy into.”
Iliadis acknowledges the challenges associated with a new coaching staff but expresses gratitude for the support he has received from the athletic department.
“The administration is being extremely supportive of the transition, getting us everything we need,” Iliadis said. “We’re overcoming a lot, anytime there’s a problem that arises there is someone for it which I’m finding very helpful.”
Prior to NSU, Iliadis was a NCAA Division 1 rower at La Salle University in Pennsylvania from 2017 through 2021, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in political science. He served as the assistant rowing coach at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania for two seasons, where he helped guide the men’s novice 8+ team to gold in the Head of the Schuylkill in 2023. Iliadis also assisted the men’s team in earning two appearances in the grand finals of the Dad Vail Regatta in 2022, as well as earning bronze in the 8+ races at the 2023 Knecht Cup.
“I’d want my legacy at NSU to be of growth,” Iliadis said. “We take what was given to us and we grow and we run with it.”
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