Kerri Brace Named Rowing Coach

Canisius Director of Athletics Bill Maher announced Tuesday that Kerri Brace has been named the new head coach of the Canisius rowing program. Brace joins the Canisius athletic staff after spending the previous eight years in various roles with the University at Buffalo rowing program, including a stint as the Bulls' interim head coach during the 2016-17 academic year.

"We are pleased to have Kerri Brace take over the rowing program here at Canisius College," Maher said. "Her experience with Division I rowing in Western New York and her ties to our region make her the ideal person to help lead our rowing program."

"I am extremely excited to be joining the Canisius College athletic family," Brace said. "I would like to thank Bill Maher, assistant athletic director Judi Caserta and the rest of the administration for providing me the opportunity to work with the dedicated student-athletes, faculty and staff at Canisius. I am eager to continue building off the solid foundation that has been laid for this program in such a short period of time."

As an assistant coach at UB, Brace helped coach the Bulls to the silver medal at the 2014 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Women's Rowing Championships. The Bulls earned the bronze medal at the CAAs in 2015.

In 2012, Brace led Buffalo's Lightweight Four to a gold medal at the Knecht Cup, while the Lightweight Eight won the silver medal at the Dad Vail Regatta. She also played a key role in the Lightweight Four participating in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship for the first time in program history, where the group earned a bronze medal. The Lightweight Four also raced as the Varsity Four in the CAA championships, winning gold after edging out Boston University by less than a second.

Brace helped guide the Lightweight Eight team to a bronze medal finish at the 2010 Knecht Cup. The Lightweight Eight also medaled for the first time at the Dad Vail Regatta, helping UB win its third straight team title.

Brace previously served as the head coach at Buffalo's Nardin Academy, leading her Lightweight Eight boat to the New York Scholastic State Championship in 2008 and 2009, as well as a gold medal at the Canadian National Championships in 2007. While in Buffalo she has also coached under Aileen McNamara at the West Side Rowing Club.

Brace graduated from Mercyhurst University in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in management information systems. As a two-time captain of the Lakers' rowing program, she competed at the NCAA Division II National Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005. In 2004, she and her teammates captured the first National Championship in Mercyhurst athletics history. For their efforts, Brace and her 2004 teammates were inducted into the Mercyhurst Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.

Brace replaces former Canisius head coach Joel Furtek, who resigned his position with the College in December 2016.

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