Matt Cosmann Named Head Rowing Coach

Canisius Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Maher announced today (Aug. 23) that Matt Cosmann has been named the new head coach of the Canisius University rowing program. Cosmann takes over the Golden Griffin rowing program after spending the previous three years as an assistant coach with the Blue and Gold.

Before joining the staff as the team's top assistant, the Buffalo, N.Y., native served as a graduate assistant coach for two seasons with the Griffs while earning his MBA in professional accounting from the University. A former coxswain at Syracuse University, Cosmann joined the Canisius rowing staff after serving as an assistant coach at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute and with the West Side Rowing Club.

"In his time with our rowing program, Matt has played a key role in the development of our student-athletes," Maher said. "His experience and knowledge of our program, our student-athletes and his relationship with the West Side Rowing Club will be a real asset in this coaching transition. Matt is eager to take on this new role and I am thrilled that his first collegiate head coaching role will be with the Golden Griffins."

"As the third head coach in program history, I am humbled and eager to take the torch lit by Joel Furtek and strengthened by Kerri Brace," Cosmann said. "I look forward to tackling the hard work that lies ahead with the incredible women who make up our program with the support of our amazing athletic department and administration. Go Griffs!"

Cosmann started in the coaching ranks in 2010 when he joined the staff at the West Side Rowing Club. In 2019, he served as head U23 and senior women's coach, leading his program to four top-five finishes at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. From 2020-23, he was the head U19, U23 and senior men's coach at West Side Rowing Club, leading his crews to several first-place finishes at various summer regattas, including back-to-back golds at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta.

In 2013, Cosmann began coaching at his high school alma mater, St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, when he took on the role of first varsity assistant coach for the Marauders. In 2016, Cosmann was appointed the head freshmen/novice coach at St. Joseph's and eventually led the Marauders' freshmen eight crew to back-to-back gold medals at the New York State Scholastic Championship in 2018 and 2019.

After starting his rowing career as a coxswain at St. Joe's, Cosmann moved on to Syracuse, where he was the top varsity coxswain with the Orange, winning the Eastern Sprints during his time there. He also coxswained for the West Side Rowing Club from 2006-11, winning the USRowing Club Nationals in 2010.

The West Side Rowing Club's 2019 Dennis Call Novice Coach of the Year, Cosmann earned his bachelor's degree from Syracuse's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 2013. He takes over the Canisius program from former head coach Kerri Brace, who stepped down as the Griffs' head coach in July to accept an administrative role within the athletic department at D'Youville University.

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