Rod McElroy is regarded as the patriarch of rowing innorthwest Ohio. As president of the Toledo Rowing Club,McElroy helped establish the annual Frogtown Races Regattaon the Maumee River. He also started an adult summerrowing education program in the mid-1990s. McElroy wascrew coach at St. John's Jesuit High School for 20 years beforeretiring this spring. He taught nearly 500 young rowers, andhis St. John's Jesuit teams won six Midwest championships.McElroy also helped found the Toledo Metropolitan RowingClub for high school students who attend schools that donot have rowing programs. McElroy grew up in Belmont,Mass., a suburb of Boston, and participated in crew at HarvardUniversity.
1. What qualities and skills make up a good rower?
Work ethic, conditioning, willingness to be a team member,loyalty, and commitment. When seven rowers and one coxswain are counting on that eighth rower to showup and he does not, that's not good!
2. What are some of your coachingphilosophies?
Family first, academics second, crewthird, and chicks … way, way down the list. Reward the correct behaviors with heaps of praise. I tell the lads that their moms are ladies, and I demand the boys treat their moms that way. I required them to get haircuts— that passed my inspection, not parent, or barber, or girlfriend. They were not permitted to wear hats indoors; if they did, I got the hat. I have quite a hat collection!
3. What role has crew played in the success of yourformer athletes?
I guess you would have to ask them. I have had a few lads thank me for showing them that it is OK to work hard, to sacrifice. A few have said, ‘I wouldn't be where I am today— or the man I am today — if it hadn't been for what you taught me and the example you set' or words to that effect.
4.What's your favorite thing to do outside of rowing?
Reading, gardening, and woodworking. I make Adirondack chairs and other pieces of furniture.
5. What coach influenced you the most?
H.O.J. ‘Joe' Brown, the lightweight crew coach at Harvard my junior and senior years. He's the reason we were undefeated my senior year. He's the reason I did not hesitate to raise my hand when the St. John's crew parents asked if anyone knew anything about rowing.
6. Growing up, who were your sports heroes?
Ted Williams and Bob Cousy
7. Who is the person you most admire?
My dad. He came from a very humble background and through the generosity of the Harvard Club of Cincinnati he was given the opportunity to go to Harvard. Without making a federal case of it, he made sure his three sonsknew how lucky he was while showing his three sons what hard work, stick-to-it-iveness, loyalty, commitment, and giving back were all about.
8. If you could meet any athlete who would it be?
Phil Jackson to learn how his playing days affected his decision to coach and how he motivates the prima donna she has to coach.
9.Why do you have a passion for rowing?
It has to do with the fact that in my freshman and sophomore years in college I rowed in the fourth boat, never raced against other colleges. Then in my junior year I made the first boat. In my senior year we were undefeated, went to the Henley Royal Regatta at Henley-on-Thames, England, and won the Thames Challenge Cup. I promote the Frogtown Regatta. It's a three-mile long race [on the MaumeeRiver] against the clock. This year the regatta will beheld on Sept. 25. We anticipate that there will be over 900competitors from at least 24 clubs in attendance.
10. Something nobody knows about you?
I have a master's degree in psychology and worked for a while at the Connecticut State Hospital. Also, not only did I row at Harvard I was also a cheerleader at the football games, the one who wore the pilgrim suit with the tall hat.
First Published June 27, 2010, 12:54 p.m.
