Women’s Rowing Adds Summit Gillespie to Coaching Staff
September 19, 2025 | Women's Rowing
LOS ANGELES – Summit Gillespie has joined the UCLA Women's Rowing staff as an assistant coach, the program announced Friday.
"Summit's energy, passion for rowing, and dedication to building the team culture are already making a mark," said head coach Vanessa Tavalero. "I've never met someone more committed to our team's growth or more relentless in recruitment. I'm thrilled to welcome Summit to UCLA Women's Rowing and can't wait to see what we achieve together!"
Prior to his arrival in Westwood, Gillespie joined Yale's heavyweight crew program as an assistant coach in August 2024. He coached the Fifth Varsity 8+ to an undefeated season and Eastern Sprints championship, the first finish of that kind in five years.
Gillespie arrived at Yale after spending the past two years at the San Diego Rowing Club in San Diego, Calif, where he served as an assistant varsity coach. While at SDRC, he helped the varsity boats to their program best finishes at San Diego Crew Classic and Southwest Regional Championships. He also spent time coaching with the Greenwich (Conn.) Crew Varsity Women's program.
Gillespie attended Temple University (Pa.) from 2019-2021 and majored in business administration and was a member of the men's crew team. While at Temple, he was the coxswain for the varsity eight boat that went undefeated during the regular season, and went on to win the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta, the largest collegiate regatta in the United States. After transferring to the University of San Diego, Gillespie graduated with a degree in business administration with a minor in international business in 2024.
A Connecticut native, Gillespie grew up in Greenwich, Conn. and was the coxswain for Greenwich Crew.
"Summit's energy, passion for rowing, and dedication to building the team culture are already making a mark," said head coach Vanessa Tavalero. "I've never met someone more committed to our team's growth or more relentless in recruitment. I'm thrilled to welcome Summit to UCLA Women's Rowing and can't wait to see what we achieve together!"
Prior to his arrival in Westwood, Gillespie joined Yale's heavyweight crew program as an assistant coach in August 2024. He coached the Fifth Varsity 8+ to an undefeated season and Eastern Sprints championship, the first finish of that kind in five years.
Gillespie arrived at Yale after spending the past two years at the San Diego Rowing Club in San Diego, Calif, where he served as an assistant varsity coach. While at SDRC, he helped the varsity boats to their program best finishes at San Diego Crew Classic and Southwest Regional Championships. He also spent time coaching with the Greenwich (Conn.) Crew Varsity Women's program.
Gillespie attended Temple University (Pa.) from 2019-2021 and majored in business administration and was a member of the men's crew team. While at Temple, he was the coxswain for the varsity eight boat that went undefeated during the regular season, and went on to win the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta, the largest collegiate regatta in the United States. After transferring to the University of San Diego, Gillespie graduated with a degree in business administration with a minor in international business in 2024.
A Connecticut native, Gillespie grew up in Greenwich, Conn. and was the coxswain for Greenwich Crew.
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