Women's Rowing
McGee, Luke
Luke McGee
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- lwmcgee@syr.edu
Two-time Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year, Luke McGee is entering his seventh season leading the Orange women's rowing program. McGee has guided Syracuse to NCAA Championship invitations for the past five seasons and coached the 2023 varsity eight to the ACC title, marking the first time an Orange varsity eight has won that race, and an eighth place finish in the race at the NCAA Championship. Syracuse placed 10th at the 2021 NCAA Championship, marking the best team finish in program history.
A former U.S. Olympic national team coach, McGee boasts extensive collegiate and international coaching experience and success. Prior to becoming Syracuse's head coach in June of 2018, McGee served as a men’s head coach for the USA national team from 2012-17, where he managed all aspects of the USA Men’s 8+ Olympic training. During his tenure, the United States Men’s 8+ won four World Cup medals, one World Championship medal and finished fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In addition, he served as the USA Under-23 Team Coordinator from 2011-17. He guided that squad to the gold medal at the 2012 Under-23 World Championship.
McGee’s coaching resume includes success at the collegiate level, as well. Prior to working for USRowing, McGee served as an assistant coach for the University of Washington’s men’s rowing program, where he helped guide the Huskies to five consecutive national championships (2008-12) and 20 individual boat national titles. McGee began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach at Brown from 2004-07, where he helped the Bears improve from 13th to third nationally.
McGee was a six-time national team member, having competed at the junior, under-23 and senior national team levels. In 2003, he was part of the gold-medal winning four with coxswain at the World Championship. He also won medals at two Under-23 championships – gold in the eight in 1999 and bronze in the eight in 2000. McGee began his international career with a silver medal in the eight at the 1997 World Rowing Junior Championship.
McGee earned his bachelor’s degree from Brown, where he helped the Bears to the 2000 Eastern Sprints championship and the 2000 Henley Royal Regatta Ladies Plate title. The 2002 Oxford graduate, McGee helped Oxford defeat Cambridge in 2002 The Boat Race.
He and his wife, Portia, who is a decorated rower having won two NCAA championships and a world championship gold medal, and competed in the women’s pair at the 2008 Olympic Games, have three daughters, Nora, Rosemary and Hazel.
McGee Podcast appearances:
For Stars Podcast
Central Current Radio
A former U.S. Olympic national team coach, McGee boasts extensive collegiate and international coaching experience and success. Prior to becoming Syracuse's head coach in June of 2018, McGee served as a men’s head coach for the USA national team from 2012-17, where he managed all aspects of the USA Men’s 8+ Olympic training. During his tenure, the United States Men’s 8+ won four World Cup medals, one World Championship medal and finished fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In addition, he served as the USA Under-23 Team Coordinator from 2011-17. He guided that squad to the gold medal at the 2012 Under-23 World Championship.
McGee’s coaching resume includes success at the collegiate level, as well. Prior to working for USRowing, McGee served as an assistant coach for the University of Washington’s men’s rowing program, where he helped guide the Huskies to five consecutive national championships (2008-12) and 20 individual boat national titles. McGee began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach at Brown from 2004-07, where he helped the Bears improve from 13th to third nationally.
McGee was a six-time national team member, having competed at the junior, under-23 and senior national team levels. In 2003, he was part of the gold-medal winning four with coxswain at the World Championship. He also won medals at two Under-23 championships – gold in the eight in 1999 and bronze in the eight in 2000. McGee began his international career with a silver medal in the eight at the 1997 World Rowing Junior Championship.
McGee earned his bachelor’s degree from Brown, where he helped the Bears to the 2000 Eastern Sprints championship and the 2000 Henley Royal Regatta Ladies Plate title. The 2002 Oxford graduate, McGee helped Oxford defeat Cambridge in 2002 The Boat Race.
He and his wife, Portia, who is a decorated rower having won two NCAA championships and a world championship gold medal, and competed in the women’s pair at the 2008 Olympic Games, have three daughters, Nora, Rosemary and Hazel.
McGee Podcast appearances:
For Stars Podcast
Central Current Radio
Women’s Rowing NCAA Selection Show Reaction
Tuesday, May 20
Highlights | ACC Rowing Championships Prelims
Friday, May 17
Kamile Kralikaite: Olympic Qualifier
Wednesday, September 27
Highlights | Varsity 8 Grand Final - ACC Championship
Saturday, May 13
